The Recital Hall at Humber Lakeshore’s cultural hub was filled with music students and enthusiasts on Wednesday afternoon as JUNO-nominated singer, trumpet player, and songwriter Tara Kannangara led a lively masterclass on songwriting, creativity, and life in the music industry.
As part of Humber’s music masterclass series, the event let students learn from a professional artist who mixes jazz, indie, and pop. With jazz keyboardist Chris Pruden, Kannangara showed how songs develop from an idea to a finished piece.
During the session, Kannangara performed some of her unreleased songs and explained her writing process, instrument choices, and lyrical ideas. She also spoke about the challenges and rewards of being a full-time musician in Canada’s competitive music scene.
Kannangara discussed balancing creativity with the business side of the music industry.
She said that artists need to handle their own work, branding, and promotion while staying true to their art.
“I try to be as honest as possible in my music,” Kannangara said. “It’s about finding what you want to say and saying it in your own way.”
Kannangara said making music takes not just talent but also discipline and persistence.
The masterclass also talked about how mindset and environment affect creativity. Kannangara encouraged students to take breaks from social media to let new ideas grow.
Bachelor of Music student at Humber Lakeshore, Simone Hope, said the session was both inspiring and down-to-earth.
“It reminded me that creativity doesn’t discriminate. It can be cultivated by anybody,” Hope said. “Tara showed us that staying true to your own voice while also allowing growth is what leads to the best results.”
Hope said hearing from a real musician helped her see how what she learns in class connects to real life.
“It’s different when you hear it from someone doing it,” Hope said. “It made me realize how important it is to create a space that helps your creativity grow.”
Humber’s music department often hosts masterclasses to show students different music styles and careers. Mentors want students to connect class learning with real-world experience.
Kannangara’s visit gave students useful tips and a better understanding of songwriting. The hall was relaxed but focused, with students taking notes, asking questions, and sharing their own challenges.
“It was the productive class, as I got the chance to learn many new things sufficiently,” Hope said.
The best part for students was watching Kannangara and Pruden perform. Their teamwork showed the skill and emotion she had talked about.
By the end, the audience felt inspired. The masterclass showed Tara Kannangara’s artistry and helped students understand how to grow their own creativity.
Samul Vari, a third-year student of music at Humber Lakeshore, said the free event was open to all Humber students and community members, with standing-room-only attendance showing the popularity of workshops that mix performance and learning.
“It wasn’t just about music, it was about learning how to be an artist,” Vari said.
