PLAIN FOLK by Ron Mason One of the most eagerly anticipated events in any parent’s life is attending the very first school concert to watch and listen when their child sings. Many of us hear our kids sing at home all the time, but it is truly moving when a group of children, large or small, really sing together from their hearts. The range of children’s music is vast, including informal rhymes and singsongs at daycares or summer camps, to professional choirs and dearly loved performers like Rick Scott and Heather Bishop. Whatever the source of the music, its origins can often be found in the simple and accessible traditions of folk music. My thoughts drift back to this time last year when a fellow teacher named Christine Foster invited my grade four class to sing at a celebration of Alberta and prairie folk music at the Cypress Centre. We were among five hundred other grade four to eight singers. Extraordinary music teachers such as Helen Snortland, Shirley McClary, and a crackerjack band assembled by Lyle Rebbeck led this grand choir. The power of over five hundred children singing meaningful songs was a moving experience. Our fair city is bestowed with high quality music programs for children through the Cultural Centre, school systems, and private instructors. No wonder the Rotary Music Festival is such a success each year at this time. There are many talented performers (many of them teachers) in Medicine Hat that often lead children in song for special events or just for fun. One such group, The Blind Mice, celebrate their 20th anniversary this year. Group member, David Gue, told me that the group has always been about the fun of making music with children. As someone who has sung along in the audience, that’s the truth! Thankfully, because there are so many children in our world, it’s not surprising that children’s music is big business. Huge stars like Waylon Jennings, Anne Murray, and Keb Mo have all made successful kids recordings. Colourful festivals, workshops and conferences, and a throng of websites are dedicated to the celebration and promotion of music for kids. The Medicine Hat Folk Music Club even organizes special workshops to promote folk music for young people in our community. Songwriters such as Bob Schneider, Mark Baldwin, and Raffi have given us songs, which for me have created magic around countless children’s campfires. The simple, honest, and usually fun themes in children’s music are things we can all understand. After all, we all were, and sometimes still are, kids. If you’re looking for something uplifting, or just downright silly to brighten your day, try listening to some children’s music; better yet, sing some with a group of kids. I’ll leave the final words to that unpredictable, sometimes kid-like master of song, Bob Dylan. “May your heart always be joyful, and may your song always be sung. And may you stay, forever, young”.
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