After hearing what her voice sounded like with a little delay and reverb, Shaunna Heckman knew there was no going back. “I really connected – I felt it in my core,” says Heckman who began her musical journey in Duluth as a singer and piano player. The experience also beckoned a question. “What else could I do with my voice?”
In an effort to educate both herself and others on the world of electronic music, Heckman started a chapter of Beats by Girlz in Duluth in autumn of 2018. The organization spans across the globe with a mission to empower young women. Though music is the focus, it is not necessarily the core goal. Along with creating beats, the experience hones in on support and comradery. "When [the participants] go off into the world and they come into a classroom or a work environment as a gender minority they feel confident and empowered."
"You don't have to play an instrument, you don't have to know your scales," says Heckman of potential registrants. "Other than letting me be a guide on their creative path... I really kind of back off and let them have independence in this journey."
Heckman is currently enrolling students into the sessions beginning on October 3rd and November 7th. Each session is a four week commitment from 4-6pm on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Beats by Girlz is open to girls age 10-14. Classes are held in downtown Duluth on 1st Ave West. Contact Shaunna Heckman directly via Instagram, Facebook or Email to enroll or for more information.