When
the Focus is Fun
By
Debbie Bailey, ACC
Recently
I presented a workshop on themed music programming for
NAP Day in the state of Colorado. I am a musician and
many in the audience naturally assumed that since they
were not musicians, they could not attempt what I suggested.
By the end of the session, many discarded that notion.
This article is intended to encourage and to very deliberately
state that when the focus is fun, talent and ability
are nice but not really all that necessary.
Allow me to introduce you to a music group called the
Village Voices that I direct at our retirement community.
Upon first glance, we might appear to be a choir but
we quickly disclaim that misperception. We are all just
voices with one goal: to have fun! And, we do! We represent
all levels of ability: memory impaired, skilled, assisted
living, as well as those living independently. Some
sing. Some don't. Some do the simple body movements;
others just watch and smile. One former member's entire
role in the group was to tell us that she loved us.
Hers was perhaps the most important contribution of
all. For the past year, she has not sung a note.
The Village Voices have been together enjoying all the
things that families enjoy for seven years. Today we
number about thirty-five. For the CAPA workshop, the
Village Voices welcomed the attendees in song at the
beginning of the day and delighted the group with a
rousing "Now it's time for happy hour, to the tune
of She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain at the end of
the day. The instruction to the Village Voices was,
"whoever wants to be there, I'll see you at 8:30
am and 4:45 pm." Some hung out the entire day just
not to miss the action. We have that kind of trust and
commitment in our group. I knew we would have plenty
of smiling faces and I was not the least bit concerned
whether any actual "singers" would appear.
Why? It really does not matter. We are there to have
fun. You hear the song in our faces. Coincidentally,
the more we laugh, the more we smile, and the better
we sound. We sing for memorial services, talent shows,
community events, elementary schools and everywhere
we go, we hear the same thing. "You look like you
are having so much fun!"
As we grow, we become more creative and members have
the confidence to say what they want to do for the next
program. Quite naturally, we evolve into a better singing
and performing group. We celebrate our successes and
our mishaps are unequivocally and decidedly ignored
and forgiven before they happen.
In January, we celebrated the Chinese New Year. Our
repertoire of Chinese music is non-existent. It just
so happens that 2006 is the year of the dog. Guess what
we sang..."How Much is that Doggie in the Window."
Perfect! It was a smashing success. Smashing! For future
reference, "Arf, Arf" is the sound for small
dogs and "Ruff, Ruff" represents the sound
of large dogs!
If we make the deliberate choice to choose from our
abundance, we are on the path to a very satisfying experience.
That is exactly what the Village Voices do. Other residents
come and sit in the "peanut gallery" to watch
us rehearse. It is fun for them to watch us have fun.
The Village Voices have learned something accomplished
choirs would do well to remember. Wrong notes are just
wrong notes. They have nothing to do with who we are.
Others delight in our performances and as we serve others,
our experience is joyous, fun, fulfilling and we swell
with the best kind of pride. Start a performing group
today and have fun! NN
|
