NEW CAR WARRANTY APPROVED • Open Late
SAVE $5
On Any Oil Change Package
• Open 7 Days a Week • Warranty Approved Services • No Appointment Necessary
Valid at all Saskatoon locations. Starting at $52.99 with coupon for most vehicles Plus taxes and enviro charge. Present coupon. Not valid with any other discounts. Exp. Feb 3, 2014
3330 8th St. E. • 705 22nd St. W. • 1204 Central Ave. • 802 Circle Dr. E. • 519 Nelson Road
Volume 11, Issue 3, Week of January 20, 2014
Saskatoonʼs REAL Community Newspaper
Noteworthy achievement
Jesse Weiman has formed a non-profit organization named Tunetown (Photo by Sandy Hutchinson)
Musician striking right notes with special-needs students
J
Tammy Robert Saskatoon Express
esse Weiman has passion and a dream. They are two essential elements for getting things done. The Saskatoon educator has melded his career working with special-needs youth and his talent as a musician and producer. When combined, the results are wonderful. “I grew up in Saskatoon. I was born and raised here,” said Weiman. “I started playing music when I was around 17, beginning with guitar and singing really badly. We formed a band called Straight Faced Liars. But we grew through the years, and won the 10K20 Star Search grant in 2007 and put out an album. That got us to a professional level really fast, and that’s when I started recording.” Despite the band’s success, Weiman and his crew didn’t take to touring. Life on the road wasn’t for him. He took a job as an educational assistant (EA) at Bethlehem High School, working with the Functionally Integrated (FI) Department for specialneeds students, while continuing to enjoy freelance music and production on the side. Thanks to what he describes as a flexible, dynamic educational environment that “allowed it to happen”, Weiman has worked
with his FI students on a number of music Another one of Weiman’s students was videos, most notably last October’s Monster terrified of Halloween, specifically masks. Mash. It scored tens of thousands of hits on That same student jumped out of his shell YouTube. when given the chance to play a role in the “I’ve always wanted to do it,” said Monster Mash video, learning his lines in a Weiman. “At Bethlehem we have great matter of days, getting the dancing correct support there. Our teachers are fantastic: in one take and sitting patiently for over so warm and outgoing. Things kicked off three hours getting his own mask applied by last spring when, as I a makeup artist. worked with these kids, “I think I have “From articulation I noticed some of them the means to grow to speaking to social could sing a bit. I knew skills, the students are Tunetown. People are improving a lot,” said I could put a product together.” Weiman. “These projects getting on board. It’s Weiman’s musings about using music fit in with their academic kick-started a video goals. Articulation and called Summer Songs, and song and video speaking is a huge which is on YouTube. academic goal. And it to highlight what Weiman shows pride health benefits; after talents everyone in our has in his students, many being involved with community has.” — of whom have shown Monster Mash, one boy notable improvements Jesse Weiman got into wrestling after which can be attributed coming out of his shell. in part to their work on camera. He lost weight and is staying after school “He didn’t really speak,” said Weiman of for activities. The kid could be a star.” one FI student. “It’s really difficult for him. Weiman’s first two videos were also a He’s shy. So with him much of it was using real success inside the Bethlehem High editing and computers. He talked the song School environment. out, then we put it together on software. “Suddenly the other students were aware: Now he’s able to sing some of it — that’s getting more involved and comfortable with where the growth came in.” the FI students,” he said. “Our entire student
body is always awesome. But I’ve noticed more kids actually taking time out of their day now to talk to my students. It gave them an identity. No one else could do what they did on these videos. Yes, it has to do with them being special needs, but it has more to do with them being unique and talented.” With his past successes under his belt and an eye to the future, Weiman has formed a non-profit organization named Tunetown. Joining forces with other local musicians and Wiegers Care For Kids, Weiman used Tunetown to release a cover of John Lennon’s So This Is Christmas to raise funds for the Saskatchewan Children’s Hospital. The Christmas video did not feature youth with special needs, but Weiman’s next Tunetown project and those going forward will have that goal in mind. “I think I’m developing a way to show the talent these kids have,” said Weiman. “I’ve been working on the Tunetown thing for a year. The next video we’re doing is Bohemian Rhapsody. What I hope to do with Tunetown is an expansion into the community of what I’ve been doing at the school.” The benefits of Weiman bringing music, video and song into the lives of people (Continued on page 5)