For 15-year-old Timmy Mann, performing in front of a home audience is a thrill— albeit a nerve-wracking one.

“The first time I sang in front of someone was at an open mic and I was really scared because I’ve never sang in front of anybody but when I actually did it, it wasn’t so hard,” he says. “You just get in the zone and you don’t realize that people are actually watching you.”

Born and raised in Canmore, Timmy started playing guitar when he was four.

“My grandma got it for me. I started taking guitar lessons from Noah Isaac. I walked there after school every day.”

Now, Timmy is one-third of the Bow Valley’s newest (and youngest) band, The Ducks, along with longtime friends Charlie Kestle and Ollie Robins.

“The Ducks started about two years ago. We put up flyers around town, not thinking that we would get anywhere really, but we got two calls to play right away,” says Timmy. 

Since then, they’ve played multiple shows, from the Seniors Centre to the Canmore Folk Fest, to a packed performance at artsPlace’s Festival of Art & Creativity in 2024.

The Ducks’ growth as musicians was bolstered by a songwriting class at artsPlace, led by local singer-songwriter Ellen Braun as part of the Youth Arts Collective program. “The first original song we ever wrote, we did it for the assignment in that class,” says Timmy.

“The class definitely helps you learn how to write songs but it’s also confidence building because there’s some things you have to do that are out of your comfort zone; it helps you be more comfortable when you’re performing in front of people,” he adds.

For Ellen, it’s not about teaching songwriting in the traditional sense. In fact, she doesn’t like to call herself a songwriting teacher. “I call myself a song doula—I just set the table, and these kids start where they’re at—some of them have never written a song before, others have already performed, so it’s a big mix,” she says.

Her goal is to create a safe space for the kids to feel okay being a little vulnerable.

“I want to show them that it’s okay to be awkward, to do things that are a bit scary in a group, even if it’s not for kids who are going into music like Timmy,” she says.

Ellen says it’s inspiring for other kids to see The Ducks putting energy into getting organized as a band and seeing the benefits of their work. “All the kids are so encouraging to each other and holding space for one another, it is really great to see,” she adds.

“It’s a really nice atmosphere for kids to build confidence, to feel seen, and to know that their words are important.” 

Timmy has big dreams. “I definitely want to go to school for music, and I hope that I can grow up to do bigger performances,” he admits. But for now, he’s focused on playing more shows in Canmore.

His advice for young musicians is simple: “Just try it. When we first put the flyers with The Ducks, we never thought that we were going to be booked, we just liked playing together—but if you put in the work and try your hardest, it pays off.”

Ellen agrees. “Even if your band never gets past your living room or your band is just you, if music interests you, just start. Write your truth. So many people go through life saying, ‘I’m not good at that’, but I have students in my adult classes who write their first song at 60 or 70 years old. Every individual has their own story and it’s never too late to start.”

For Ellen, it feels particularly special to be able to play music on the same stages with her students, and to see them pursue their passion.

“It’s going to be really cool to see where all of the different songwriters who have taken the class go,” she says. “Whether they pursue music or not, it’s been a really cool journey.”

As for The Ducks? “I just hope they keep their joy, whatever they do. All three of them love playing music and it’s such a gift to have that, so however it looks like in their lives, I hope they get to keep that close.”