Rik Leaf's Blog, page 14

Slam Poetry in Schools

What is slam poetry?

Slam poetry is a combination of creative writing and creative performance. Traditional poets wrote with the expectation that their audience would experience their poetry by reading it. A slam poet writes knowing that the only way their audience will experience their poetry is through their performance. Slam poetry in schools is an exciting opportunity for students to approach words in an unexpected and creative way.

What is a Poetry Slam?

A poetry slam is a celebration of poetry being performed live. It’s not acting. No props or costumes are allowed. You can write about anything you want. You can perform however you want. So some are funny, sad, angry, political, spiritual and at times…all of the above. Slam poets typically memorize their work. There is a three-minute time limit. So those who have a lot to say ‘slam’ their words fast and furious. This is fun, and can be quite impressive. A poetry slam is very participatory. If the audience likes something the poet has said, or how they said it, they give ‘snaps.’ Clapping and cheering can drown out the next line a poet says, so audiences snap their fingers, to communicate their appreciation.

In schools this encourages students to participate as listeners, encouraging one another and have fun doing it.

My First Exposure to Slam Poetry 

My first exposure to slam poetry happened at a big music festival. Right before my band Tribe of One was scheduled to perform, a slam team took the stage. A young Filipino poet named Nereo II performed, Dear Santa. It was the story of a young boy, sleeping on a dirt floor in a rice field who heard of a fat white guy with a big beard that snuck down the chimney of rich kids once a year to give them presents.

I was mesmerized. All the hair stood up on my arms as Nereo performed. I didn’t know if I could ‘do’ slam poetry, but I knew I had to try. The first poem flew out of my pen as soon as I got home. I quickly memorized it and started incorporating it into my concerts. Shortly after that my father passed away, and I found myself back at my parent’s farm where I grew up. As I wandered around the property I was writing down memories and emotions from his life. My emotional observations ended up becoming my second slam poem called, Superman’s Dead. A couple days later I performed my second slam poem at my dad’s funeral.

 Slam Poetry Workshop Objectives

Slam poetry workshops give students an opportunity to approach words in a new and unexpected way. Because no one is ever going to read the poem, they are encouraged not to worry about correct spelling, punctuation or grammar. As long as they know what they are saying, that’s all that matters. This removes a huge creative censor out of the way for many students, allowing them to focus on finding their voice to share their story.

I also encourage students to write about subjects they are interested in. Connecting their creative writing and performance with something they are already passionate about and interested in creates a win-win environment.

Slam Poetry Workshops develop creative writing, editing, public presentation, team building and encourage creative risk taking. Many students discover a fresh and exciting approach to communicating with words that they have never experienced before. For six years I have taught slam poetry to students from Grades 2-12.

The post Slam Poetry in Schools appeared first on Rik Leaf.

Slam Poetry Workshops

What is slam poetry?

Slam Poetry is a combination of creative writing and creative performance. Slam poetry workshops are an exciting opportunity for students to approach words in an unexpected and creative way.

 

Traditional poets wrote with the expectation that their audience would experience their poetry by reading it. A slam poet writes knowing that the only way their audience will experience their poetry is through their performance.

What is a Poetry Slam?

A poetry slam is a celebration of words. It’s not acting. No props or costumes are allowed. You can write about anything you want. You can perform however you want. Some are funny, sad, angry, political, spiritual and at times…all of the above. Slam poets typically memorize their work. There is a three-minute time limit. So those who have a lot to say ‘slam’ their words fast and furious. This is fun, and can be quite impressive.

A poetry slam is very participatory. The audience cheers the poet from their seat to the stage so they don’t have to walk in awkward silence. If they like something the poet has said, or how they said it, they give ‘snaps.’ Clapping and cheering can drown out the next line a poet says, so audiences snap their fingers, to communicate their appreciation.

Slam poetry workshops in schools encourages students to participate as listeners, encouraging one another and have fun doing it.

The workshop material compliments language arts, creative writing, oral presentations, and has students writing and editing collectively as well as individually. The 4 minute video below is a compilation of schools I’ve worked with and will hopefully give you a good idea of what your students and school can anticipate.

Slam Poetry Workshops develop creative writing, editing, public presentation, team building and encourage creative risk taking. Many students discover a fresh and exciting approach to communicating with words that they have never experienced before.

The post Slam Poetry Workshops appeared first on Rik Leaf.

Student Slam Poetry Workshops

Slam Poetry is a combination of creative writing and creative performance. These workshops are an exciting opportunity for students to approach words in an unexpected and creative way.

The 4 minute video below is a compilation of schools I’ve worked with and will hopefully give you a good idea of what your students and school can anticipate.

Slam Poetry Workshops develop creative writing, editing, public presentation, team building and encourage creative risk taking. Many students discover a fresh and exciting approach to communicating with words that they have never experienced before.

The post Student Slam Poetry Workshops appeared first on Rik Leaf.

Student Filmmaking Project

The student filmmaking project is an exciting opportunity for students to work together in a highly creative environment that plays to the strengths of each individual, creating a win-win for everyone involved.

Project Overview

Students begin with an overview of responsibilities and roles in filmmaking and learn to identify their interests and abilities and then match them with the skill set needed to produce a film. Some students like to be in front of the camera. Some would hate to be in front, but love to be behind operating it. Others like to edit, write the music, script, etc. Recognizing how our differences are strengths when we work together is a prime objective of this project.

Once they have the Big Picture, they create a strategy to break it down into manageable steps. This involves break out sessions and scriptwriting, developing the screenplay and creating storyboards. Camera operators and editors familiarize themselves with the equipment.

When filming begins, cast and crew work together to tell their story. Throughout the project the group reviews their progress and each student analyzes themselves and the role they played and how it contributed to the big picture.

This project is really fun. It plays to the strengths of each student, and provides a really positive environment to play your part, while encouraging others to do the same. It’s fun to have an ‘official screening’ at the end of the week and invite the whole school and family to celebrate the student’s talents and the creative risks they took together during the week.

Project objectives,

for each student to appreciate the value of their story (experiences/hopes/dreams)
to recognize the value of their own unique gifts, talents and abilities to share their story
to understand how our unique skill set allows us to work collaboratively to tell OUR story in a better way than any of us could on our own

For a recent multi media project in an elementary school, I asked two classes with 25 kids in each, to tell the story of their school. They brainstormed and came up with different elements that make up the life of their school. The mascot, band, breakfast program, recycling, etc.

They spent two days creating storyboards and shot lists for a lip dub video. Then they matched their individual skill sets, gifts and interests with the skills required to complete the project. They decided who would be actors, directors, camera operators, etc.

We had one 45 minute class each day over the week to produce these video. On the Friday afternoon at the end of the week, the school organized an assembly for all the students, and we had an official screening of the films the students made. This allowed the other students to see themselves on the screen, and for the whole school to celebrate their creativity.

Movie Trailers

I spent the following week in a middle school working with 4 different classes ranging from grade 7-9. I divided each class of 30 students into 5 separate film crews. Each group had to decide what type of film trailer they wanted to make. (horror, comedy, adventure, etc)

After deciding on the type of story, they worked out a storyboard and shot list. Then it was their turn to match their individual skill set with the skills needed to complete the project. One person may like to be in front of the camera, but the next person would hate it. But that person might like to operate the camera. Together they figured out who would write the script, who would direct and edit.

We didn’t have a lot of time. We spent the first two 45 minute classes (Mon & Tue) in pre production, getting the story, the script and shot list, and the following two days, (Wed & Thur) filming and editing. On Thursday night, we had a free community concert that featured the 8 trailers and a collection of slam poets I had also worked with through the week.

These projects develop media literacy and the fundamentals of storytelling and composition. They require students to identify their unique talents and abilities and then match those to the project. They learn to recognize how their strengths and weaknesses provide opportunities to work with others who are skilled differently.

One of the main strengths of this project is that we create an environment where every student can play to their strengths so that the entire group can have a ‘win’. It’s great for team building and setting a tone for creative exploration and development. I offer this workshop to teachers and adults in other professional settings as well.

Contact info@rikleaf.com or 250 896 2572 to book a residency in your school or community.

The post Student Filmmaking Project appeared first on Rik Leaf.

Student Filmmaking Projects

I teach a variety of workshops in schools. For a recent multi media video project, I asked two classes with 25 kids in each, to tell the story of their school through visual storytelling.

They brainstormed and came up with different elements that make up the life of their school. The mascot, band, breakfast program, recycling, etc.

They spent two days creating storyboards and shot lists for a lip dub video. Then they matched their individual skill sets, gifts and interests with the skills required to complete the project. They decided who would be actors, directors, camera operators, etc.

We had one 45 minute class each day over the week to produce these video. On the Friday afternoon at the end of the week, the school organized an assembly for all the students, and we had an official screening of the films the students made. This allowed the other students to see themselves on the screen, and for the whole school to celebrate their creativity.

Movie Trailers

I spent the following week in a middle school working with 4 different classes ranging from grade 7-9. I divided each class of 30 students into 5 separate film crews. Each group had to decide what type of film trailer they wanted to make. (horror, comedy, adventure, etc)

After deciding on the type of story, they worked out a storyboard and shot list. Then it was their turn to match their individual skill set with the skills needed to complete the project. One person may like to be in front of the camera, but the next person would hate it. But that person might like to operate the camera. Together they figured out who would write the script, who would direct and edit.

We didn’t have a lot of time. We spent the first two 45 minute classes (Mon & Tue) in pre production, getting the story, the script and shot list, and the following two days, (Wed & Thur) filming and editing. On Thursday night, we had a free community concert that featured the 8 trailers and a collection of slam poets I had also worked with through the week.

These projects develop media literacy and the fundamentals of storytelling and composition. They require students to identify their unique talents and abilities and then match those to the project. They learn to recognize how their strengths and weaknesses provide opportunities to work with others who are skilled differently.

One of the main strengths of this project is that we create an environment where every student can play to their strengths so that the entire group can have a ‘win’. It’s great for team building and setting a tone for creative exploration and development. I offer this workshop to teachers and adults in other professional settings as well.

Contact info@rikleaf.com or 250 896 2572 to book a residency in your school or community.

The post Student Filmmaking Projects appeared first on Rik Leaf.

live in your moment

Driving from Victoria to Fort St John, B.C. felt like moving through a 12-hour postcard. The richness and depth of the autumn palette was totes-amazeballs. Like Mother Nature knew full well she was looking damn good and meant to flaunt her assets and turn some heads as she sashayed from summer to fall.

After battling road raging thespians in the theatre of insane lower mainland traffic, I was loving the solitude. Leaving behind the madness of crowds and anxious, angry energy…I was reminded there are worse things than being alone. It was a moment. A moment in time. My moment in time.

The brilliant blue sky perfectly described the whole notion of  a good idea getting carried away, as mist and fog seemed to cling to the rivers and lakes like breath exhaled from warm lips on a cold day. It made me wonder what the water was saying.

At one point I realized I was slowing down, preparing to pull over on the side of the road. “What are you doing?” I asked myself out loud. Put on the spot, I had no choice but to respond. “It’s so beautiful…I was going to take a picture.” I replied, suddenly feeling a bit sheepish.

“You are going to try and capture ALL THIS!? A moment that’s been hours…no, days in the making. The solitude, the colours, the quiet, the unquantifiable peace that comes from being alone. And how were you planning on capturing all this…please don’t tell me you were going to use your iphone?” Put that way it did sound pretty stupid. “And do what? Share it on Facebook?” a part of me exclaimed aghast.

So I kept driving…cause I’d made a pretty good point. There was no way share this. Not really. The moment was as densely layered as the kaleidoscope of colours. The connection was so uniquely personal it wasn’t meant for anyone else. Life is a solitary experience that offers occasional, fleeting moments of interaction with others. There are few things as meaningful and enduring as the isolation of living comfortably in your own skin. Finding a way to travel through the incredible landscape of life on your own.

14 hours and 1200+ kms later I arrived in Fort St John where I’m spending three weeks teaching slam poetry and filmmaking workshops. My moment suddenly includes 300 youth, educators, administrators and parents, and I am instantly thankful for the two days of solitude that helped me build up a reservoir of social capital. It’s exhausting. And amazing…and I focus on being IN every moment.

If you inspire one person in this life, you are a gift that can’t be taken away. If you learn to live in your moment and enjoy the solitary nature of this journey…you are a gift to yourself.

(many thanks to the residents of north peace country who took and shared their amazing photos featured in this story)

The post live in your moment appeared first on Rik Leaf.

Let Your Palate Be Your Guide

Let Your Palate Guide You To Amazing Wines

My budget has never been able to afford the wines I’d drink if money were no object. My palate has motivated me to be a very discerning buyer, exploring wine producers and regions where I don’t have to pay for a prestigious ‘brand name.’ I want my money going to the quality of the wine in the bottle, not the décor of the tasting room at the Chateau.

South Africa — It’s true, world-renowned Chenin Blanc comes from Anjou-Saumur and Touraine in France’s, Loire Valley. But there is some spectacular Chenin Blanc produced in South Africa. Producers like Ken Forrester Vineyards, situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains in the famous Stellenbosch wine region, have received international acclaim.

Pinotage, created in the 1920s by crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (known at the time as Hermitage, thus the name) is considered the signature grape of South Africa. Some outstanding Pinotage is grown on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountains in the Stellenbosch Region of the Cape, referred to as the ‘red wine bowl.’ Some South African producers coax mocha, toffee and coffee flavours from the Pinotage…a trend that this wine enthusiast finds particularly delicious.

Spain — After decades of inconsistent quality and production, Spain has experienced a resurgence, as new world winemakers combine the latest winemaking techniques and equipment with old world vines. This means people like you and I can enjoy high quality Gran Reserva, Tempranillo and Albariño at amazingly affordable prices.

Croatia — Located across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, Croatia has a winemaking tradition that is centuries old. War, conflict and political instability devastated the wine industry for years, but recently there have been some very cool wines coming out of this region. If you can find a wine store that carries wines from Croatia, look for regional varieties like Plavac Mali and Pošip.

France — If you and I are in the same budget boat, Bordeaux is out of reach. But there is an emerging production of bold, full-bodied Tannat wines from the Saint Mont wine region, situated just north of the Pyrenees in southwest France that is abso-frigging-lutely worth checking out! Bold, full-bodied and absolutely affordable…try them while you can before the fashionistas get wind of it and wreck it for all of us.

The World of Wine is incredibly rich and diverse…let your palate guide you on your journey of discovery!

Rik Leaf is a world traveling Advanced Level Wine Educator, Performer & Published Author.

The post Let Your Palate Be Your Guide appeared first on Rik Leaf.

Let Your Palate (Not Your Budget) Be Your Guide To Amazing Wines

Let Your Palate Guide You To Amazing Wines

My budget has never been able to afford the wines I’d drink if money were no object. My palate has motivated me to be a very discerning buyer, exploring wine producers and regions where I don’t have to pay for a prestigious ‘brand name.’ I want my money going to the quality of the wine in the bottle, not the décor of the tasting room at the Chateau.

South Africa — It’s true, world-renowned Chenin Blanc comes from Anjou-Saumur and Touraine in France’s, Loire Valley. But there is some spectacular Chenin Blanc produced in South Africa. Producers like Ken Forrester Vineyards, situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains in the famous Stellenbosch wine region, have received international acclaim.

Pinotage, created in the 1920s by crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (known at the time as Hermitage, thus the name) is considered the signature grape of South Africa. Some outstanding Pinotage is grown on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountains in the Stellenbosch Region of the Cape, referred to as the ‘red wine bowl.’ Some South African producers coax mocha, toffee and coffee flavours from the Pinotage…a trend that this wine enthusiast finds particularly delicious.

Spain — After decades of inconsistent quality and production, Spain has experienced a resurgence, as new world winemakers combine the latest winemaking techniques and equipment with old world vines. This means people like you and I can enjoy high quality Gran Reserva, Tempranillo and Albariño at amazingly affordable prices.

Croatia — Located across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, Croatia has a winemaking tradition that is centuries old. War, conflict and political instability devastated the wine industry for years, but recently there have been some very cool wines coming out of this region. If you can find a wine store that carries wines from Croatia, look for regional varieties like Plavac Mali and Pošip.

France — If you and I are in the same budget boat, Bordeaux is out of reach. But there is an emerging production of bold, full-bodied Tannat wines from the Saint Mont wine region, situated just north of the Pyrenees in southwest France that is abso-frigging-lutely worth checking out! Bold, full-bodied and absolutely affordable…try them while you can before the fashionistas get wind of it and wreck it for all of us.

The World of Wine is incredibly rich and diverse…let your palate guide you on your journey of discovery!

Rik Leaf is a world traveling Advanced Level Wine Educator, Performer & Published Author.

The post Let Your Palate (Not Your Budget) Be Your Guide To Amazing Wines appeared first on Rik Leaf.

The story ON the bottle

The Story ON the Bottle

Space is very limited on the outside of a wine bottle, so you know that winemakers have carefully chosen information they believe will help you anticipate the wine IN the bottle.

I recently picked up a bottle of Urban Uco. It had a sophisticated hipster logo that made me think of young urban wine drinkers…like me.

For many Old World producers the name of the chateau or region is what’s important. Most new world wine labels include the grape variety on the label, and as new world consumers that’s how we’ve learned to guide our purchase. So right under Urban Uco we see Malbec and Tempranillo. So we know this wine is a blend of these two grapes.

What do we know about Malbec? We know it’s a purple, thin-skinned grape that makes inky deep coloured red wines that are full-bodied, with a plush mouth-feel, robust tannins and juicy ripe black fruit and violet aromas. It is considered by many to be the national grape variety of Argentina where it has found its ideal growing environment.

What do we know about Tempranillo? We know it’s a black, thick-skinned grape that makes full-bodied ruby red wines, low in acidity and sugar with aromas of plum, ripe strawberries, leather and herbs. Its neutral profile allows it to easily take on flavours of oak barrels so we can anticipate oak, tobacco and vanilla. It is considered by many to be Spain’s noble grape.

With its neutral profile Tempranillo needs a cool climate to produce acidity and elegance, but it also needs heat to get high sugar levels and ripen the thick skins that provide the deep colour. In Spain these two elements are best found at high elevations in areas like Ribera del Duero.

This leads us to our next clue on the label. We read that Urban Uco comes from the Uco Valley, a top wine-producing region in Mendoza, which is the largest wine producing region in Argentina where almost all of the vineyards are planted at high elevation in the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

Altitude is key for wine producers in Argentina. It decreases the overall temperature while increasing the sunlight intensity. The best wines come from high altitude vineyards. Generally wines made from fruit ripened at lower altitudes are fuller-bodied with more black fruit, but often the acidity can be too low and the wines taste flabby and weak.

So story synopsis on the front of the bottle. Urban Uco is a hip, sophisticated wine that will appeal to urban drinkers. It comes from the Uco Valley, a high altitude wine-producing region in Mendoza, Argentina. We anticipate the blend of Malbec and Tempranillo ripened at high altitude will be a deeply coloured, full-bodied red wine with an elegant balance of acidity, sugar, fruit and oak flavours.

On the back of the label the winemaker breaks the story down in point form,

Red wine (start with the obvious)

50% Malbec 50% Tempranillo (we can anticipate varietal characteristics equally)

Vineyard – Valle De Uco (so it’s a high altitude wine region in Mendoza)

Altitude 3600 FT/1,100 Meters (we know why this is important)

Harvest – Hand-Picked during April 2012 (no mass machine harvesting)

Fermentation – Stainless Steel Vats (means the wine was made using the most modern techniques and equipment)

Ageing – Three months in oak barrels (soften the wine a bit while adding that oak and vanilla flavours and aromas)

Ideally Served at 17C (63F) – Red wine is often served too warm, and the winemakers know this. They want you to know that if your full-bodied red wine is sitting out in a hot room you want to pop it into the fridge for 15–20 minutes to cool it down so you will be able to appreciate the elegance and balance of their wine)

Knowing how to read the story ON the bottle lets you know what you can anticipate IN the bottle.

Rik is a world traveling Advanced Level Wine Educator, Performer & Published Author.

The post The story ON the bottle appeared first on Rik Leaf.

You Want The Truth?

You Want the Truth?

Then you definitely shouldn't read my book...cause you couldn't handle the way the truth is manhandled and manipulated, cajoled, massaged, twisted up in sarcasm and irony and irreverently paraded through the sacred halls of upstanding storytelling.

BUT...if that sounds like a pretty good Saturday night, then you should enter to win a free copy!

https://www.facebook.com/internationa...