Dynamic's Impact

Graphic made by Danishy Kuganesan

Introduction

Welcome to our blog! In this blog, we aim to bring awareness about what Dynamic stands for, introduce you to artists who are making systemic changes to their own communities around Canada, highlight events that positively impact the arts, and gather resources on how to incorporate art as a part of education. In this first blog post, we are going to look at Dynamic’s impact throughout the years.

2025 was a year of exciting changes and developments in our programs at Dynamic. This post aims to discuss how we positively impacted the lives of individuals in the GTA and beyond, as well as how we help serve their needs. The information in this blog post is based on this infographic we have made, so please feel free to check the infographic below. It is posted on our social media accounts.

Dynamic's impact infographic - made by Laurie Ta and Danishy Kuganesan

Before we dive into our impact, we must talk about what Arts education is, the benefits and soft skills individuals can gain from participating in arts education and community music and how these concepts go hand in hand with our programs and repertoire.

What is Arts Education? 

Visual Arts Lesson at the Greenborough Community Church 📷: Isabel Misquitta-Yip

To start, arts education is a study that focuses on the creation and enjoyment of various art forms. While it is traditionally used in visual arts, it can extend to other forms of arts such as theatre, music, design arts, writing and fiber arts. 

Arts education is fundamental to an individual’s success because it helps eliminate barriers to entry for learning new motor and intelligence skills, as art oftentimes transcends language in everyday communication. An example of this coming into effect is when Eric Rodrigues has taught students about art history using Aztec symbols in conjunction with the teaching material. This has helped students make connections between their experiences as artists and the teaching at hand which has resulted in increased understanding of how to apply these lessons towards their own art. 

Benefits/soft skills of arts education?

There are many benefits to participating in arts education. Here are some of them, according to Eric Rodrigues:

• Increased Tolerance & Empathy - exposes students to viewpoints outside of their own. Students learn and reflect on artists, new and old, as well as experience different cultures. They can see how world events often overlap with how an artist develops their craft and why decisions may be made based on the world around them. Students will be able to reflect on how artists of different cultures adapt or break cultural norms.

  
  

• Improved Resiliency - “Producing art, rather than simply experiencing it, may also benefit students. As a recent study found, visual arts production can actually change the wiring of the brain, improving areas that help us manage stress. In the study, adults who produced art showed improved psychological resilience, a benefit that will likely help them better cope with future stress” (Walden University, 2021). 

Additionally, other soft skills that can be gained are self-confidence, passion, determination, kindness towards yourself and others, and encouragement to further participate in other community events. 

What is Community Music?

 There are many ways to define the term "Community Music." The simplest way is to collaborate with others to create music through a combination of planning, improvisation, and enjoyment. It “embraces cultural diversity…inclusivity, participatory” (Huib Schnippers) approaches as it engages the brain.

Community Music is not just about making music; it is also a way to help build a community. Everyone has the right and ability to create and participate in music, as music schools help provide music lessons to enrich the lives of marginalized communities by providing educational opportunities in the creative arts. It creates a safe space where ideas and practices can be developed including cultures, listening, respect for individual voices, and patience. Without it can lead to miscommunication and confusion, as not everyone can learn as quickly as others. 

Dynamic’s impact on creating an inclusive environment

Dynamic fosters community by creating that 3rd space where individuals can make and enjoy art together. This is done through the physical events that introduce the basics of music theory, music performance, all in ways that are informative and fun and the mini virtual material through digital media formats such as social media and their website that can help continue to understand better about the basics of music and further exploration into musical inspirations.

Past Dynamic events and what was gained from that

With their current series, The Stories We Keep, with events such as virtual piano and violin lessons in Cambodia, along with the arts like crochet, visual arts and piano at the Greenborough Community Church, individuals have reported back with new insights into the arts and have developed new soft skills. 

When Dynamic officially started in the summer of 2021, it began with virtual music summer camps across the GTA and in Cambodia. Throughout their time, teachers provided students with a program package and a backpack filled with back-to-school supplies. Students not only learned to play the piano correctly but also to understand basic music theory which includes different notes on the staff and rhythms, and to grasp how music works. After the virtual summer camp ended, the international student from Cambodia continued to play the piano for two years and returned to the 2023 virtual summer classes with other students from Cambodia, showcasing dedication and memory training because they were committed to learning the instrument and continued to showcase it more after playing around with the provided piano books they used. 

After a two-year hiatus, Dynamic successfully expanded our virtual music lessons internationally in Cambodia, introducing piano and our inaugural violin lessons. Near the end of the summer camp, one of the students transferred to learn the violin for at least two weeks. It may have been a big jump, but it showcased who they are through their determination and passion for jumping into new challenges and changes driven by their love of making music. 

Over the years, these experiences have fostered self-confidence, determination, and a passion for tackling new challenges, while also cultivating a growth mindset for future endeavours. Making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process; it demonstrates the importance of perseverance and the willingness to learn in order to improve. Ultimately, the art of music-making reflects one's identity and dedication to embracing new knowledge and skills.

Article Created by Danishy Kuganesan & Laurie Ta