We meet every Monday and sing together. We sing music from the present and the past and sometimes a mash up of both. It is such an amazing thing. To join the young and old together and make beautiful music...truly wonderful!
A few weeks ago we were approached by Wilfrid Laurier University to sing as an opening act for their Music Care Conference. This is a conference that is all about Music for healing and Music for changing the world. So we practiced like crazy and today was the big performance. I wanted to share the email that I sent to my staff to let them know how the morning went...
Hi All!
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!
I just wanted to share a bit about the experience Kyle and I had with the Glee choir today. (I atteached 2 pictures too!) It was AMAZING!
We were to meet at 7:45 for sound check. Kyle and I thought we would get there a little earlier so that we knew what was going on. Of course we were only slightly surprised that some of the 6's were there already!! They are such a wonderful and eager group of kids!
Once we all were there, we went on stage for the sound check. The 6's were so cute...helping the seniors by holding their hands, arranging chairs and coats. It just had my heart smiling so big as I watched them. Rita...one of the more entertaning seniors...came out yodelling and hugging and kissing everyone! We practiced the songs and then back to the green room for snacks. The seniors all had their morning coffee and meds.
Then it was show time! We went back on to stage...this time to a full theatre of people! The conference was all about Music as a form of healing and Music as a way to make the world a better place. The audience was full of musicians, music therapists, teachers, and many more. The first person who spoke welcomed everyone and spoke of the power of music and how present and universal music is. It was just such an amazing atmosphere. Next they introduced us and Brian (the musical therapist from the Westmount) talked a little bit about us and how the choir came to be.
And then we sang.
And it was so moving.
I was teary as I led the choir and watched all the faces. I was touched by the way it seemed as if they had been singing together for ever. The way our 6's sang loud and strong and clear. The way the residents tapped their feet and came to life and sang from their hearts. The way everyone smiled and let the music flow out of them The way all the voices joined as one and made truly beautiful music.
At the end of our last song the choir splits and half sings "Don't stop believing." while the other half sang "What the world needs now". While we were singing this, Rita (who had been feeling the music from the moment she arrived!!) grabbed the hands of Talia and Claire on either side of her and started swaying and raising their hands in the air. And as the song ended, and the choir sang out the last line "Don't stop believing, what the world needs now is love" and everyone was smiling and singing their hearts out...the audience started clapping and cheering and they rose to their feet with tears in their eyes. The look on the faces of every member of the choir was priceless.
What an amazing morning. What an amazing group of kids. What an amazing group of seniors. What an amazing musical moment.
We are so lucky for this connection with the Westmount. This morning was just one of the many moments shared with them where I didn't think my heart could smile any bigger!! We are so proud of our students - who sounded amazing...but more than that...who acted with such kindness and compassion and respect. My heart is bursting!
Thanks for listening...and if you see any of the Glee at heart kids...let them know they did a wonderful job!
Yours In Kindness,
Karen
P.S. A funny side note...when it was time to leave the stage, I went to help Rita. She took my hand, a few of our girls were helping too, and this was our dialogue...
Rita "Where are you taking me now?"
Me "We are all done. It is time to go."
Rita "Is it over?"
Me "Yes."
Rita "We were pretty great weren't we!"
Me "You were better then great!"
Rita "Well, now I can finally take a shit!"
