In an effort to generate interest in and awareness of making music, a Twin Cities band will next week visit Koochiching County schools to show students music isn’t only about virtuosos and rock stars.
Chris Koza and his band, Rogue Valley, will visit schools Sept. 23-28 in International Falls, Littlefork, Northome, Kelliher and Indus to connect with students and hopefully, according to Koza, help students develop musical skills and establish the connection from school to a career as a working musician.
“I am really excited to meet the students and learn about their experiences with making music and songwriting,” Koza told The Journal. “I think we’re going to learn a lot from them and I think opening up a dialogue with other creative minds is the best way to make the most of a limited amount of time and exposure.”
The band’s visit to Borderland is the first in a series of five shows made possible through grants secured by the Backus Community Center. In addition to outreach in the schools, Rogue Valley will perform a concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Backus Community Center.
“The artists (in the concert series) are not only performing on stage, they are connecting with area students,” said Ward Merrill, executive director of Backus. More information on the concert series will appear in Saturday’s edition of The Journal.
In a single year, Rogue Valley written, recorded and released four full length albums, each one revolving around the season of its creation. Together, the four albums tell a story of love, loss, regret and hope.
Koza said the band’s goal in reaching out to students is to share insights on creativity and help answer questions they have about making music and making a career in music.
“When I was in high school, and younger, I played music,” Koza said. “I was a piano student playing mainly classical music; I participated in choirs and was involved in music-related projects with my friends. But I felt like I had a lot of questions about the process and realities of making music and also discovering what about making music was truly interesting for me personally.”
This type of outreach is not a first for Rogue Valley. Koza explained the band has been involved with another grant-funded organization called the Minnesota Music Coalition. The group has visited with students and citizens in Grand Rapids about experiences as musicians and the process of songwriting.
“As an individual and solo artist, I have met with a handful of different classrooms and student groups to play songs and talk about music, and doing what I can to make music feel more accessible to people,” he said.
Koza said the band will listen to what studends have to offer and will work toward encouraging students to write songs and be creative from any mindset. He said if a student expresses interest in pursuing music, it’s important that Rogue Valley encourages them to work hard and pursue music because they love the pursuit.
“I think anytime I’m able to share what I am passionate about with others it is not only enjoyable, but thoroughly rewarding,” Koza said. “It can be truly difficult and unusual to make introductions and open up with strangers and get past that awkward phase, but like jumping in the cold waters of Rainy Lake on a hot summer afternoon, what was once uncomfortable is now refreshing. I love being able to connect with people with what they are passionate about, and being able to share experiences and ideas.”
Koza said he looks forward to the visit to Borderland – which inspired one of the songs Rogue Valley will perform during its Sept. 28 concert. Admission to the event is $12 for an adult, $6 for a student and $25 for a family pass. Season passes for all five of the shows in the Backus concert series are also available by contacting Backus at 285-7225.
