Sound Investment: Building Community Through Music

Curious about music and how bands work? Ever thought you’d like to try a stand-up bass, or an accordion, or even a clarinet? On September 28 you are invited to a Happy Hour and information session on the Sound Investment: Seniors for Music project.  Musicians will be available after the performance to talk about their instruments, let the public try them out, and talk about playing with others.
 
The event will happen at the Gold Rush Inn, Town Hall conference room: doors opening at 4:30pm, and music starting at 5:15pm. Live music will be performed by Widdershins featuring Scott Maynard, Andrea McColeman, Anne Turner, Lonnie Powell and guests.
 
“During our last project Stories Into Songs we got a lot of seniors who either have some knowledge of music and want to learn more, or some who never learned who would like to” says Arlin McFarlane, artistic director for WIT (Whitehorse Independent Theatre), "The idea grew from there to help people learn to play together and maybe even create small bands who could learn together and then go out and play in the community."
 
The project is funded by the federal New Horizons for Seniors program, but is not limited to people over 55 as past WIT projects have been, and is the third project WIT has organized. The first, Our Stories Ourselves, focused on story circles and themes of gratitude and legacy. Earlier this year Stories into Songs saw great success with the formation of song circles and the writing of eleven original songs based on the stories they heard from seniors. The performance at the Old Fire Hall in March was standing room only and cemented the value of WIT’s work to the community.
 
Now the focus is on volunteerism and the creation of a small skilled force of beginner musical bands who will share their music with the community. “Interest is really strong, particularly because it was the community who asked for the program” explains McFarlane. “There are a lot of people who have some knowledge of music, would like to play again, would like to play with others, recognize the joy that music brings, and would like to bring that joy to others in our continuing care facilities. So we are helping that to happen”.
 
For more information or if you are interested in being involved in the project visit WIT's website wittheatre.com or phone 867-336-2015.