Kick Up Your Kilts
Hot cross buns, hot cross bunsOne a penny, two a pennyHot cross buns
With the elimination of pennies, are kids still learning this song?
There are endless benefits to a child learning how to play a musical instrument, which is why many parents bear the pain.
The benefits include but are not limited to: improves memory, stimulates creativity, enhances coordination, improves social skills and improves frustration.
As someone who played two musical instruments growing up – trumpet and the organ. (One I was good at; one I was not. I’ll let you guess which was which) I experienced the benefits first hand and the special memories associated with it.
Like the memory of playing in the basement while my mom yelled from upstairs, “that’s the wrong note!” As though I couldn’t hear that for myself.
So I do applaud the school system for introducing music class, musical instruments and band but why oh why do they start with the recorder?
Nothing compares to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star sounding like the cry of a wounded cat.
For most households I’m sure, the only way the student is able to keep a steady beat is by following along to the rhythm of their parents banging their heads against the wall.
Hot Cross Buns is more so hot cross Mom.
I’m sure there’s a reason why they’ve chosen the recorder with studies to back up their decision, but it appears I would have benefited from learning how to schedule music instead of playing it…
In Suns Out, Inks Out, red was where it shouldn’t be. Today, kilts were where they shouldn’t be.
Confession time. No, not that kind of confession. I need to confess that there is one aspect of my job that I don’t love (you all have one too – or ten). Mine is booking special events and entertainment.
It’s not something I thought I would ever have to do, but sometimes we need to change our tune and all that jazz.
More times than not, people mistake these type of gatherings for recreation therapy, which strikes a chord with most Recreation Therapists. These type of groups are activities and recreation therapists create therapeutic programs. (But I won’t harp on this today).
Now don’t twist and shout what I’m saying, musical entertainment and special events for people living in care is without a doubt important and beneficial.
It’s just not my cup of tea or jam for that matter. (Jam as in music not to be confused with what is spread on toast).
Whenever we are booking entertainment, I ponder what musicians will be playing when Millennials are older and living in care. Get Rich or Die Tryin’, 50 Cents’s album? Justin Bieber? A TikTok star?
I enjoy music as much as the next person, but I foresee myself dancing to the beat of my own drum in that case much like how today, I was dancing to Scottish music at a western barbecue..
The Calgary Stampede is a rodeo, exhibition and festival that occurs annually in July. The city is buzzing and so are the musicians. So to ensure we have quality Stampede entertainment at our facility, we have to book our musicians months in advance.
As the Stampede approached, I realized we didn’t know the name of one of the bands we had arranged. So I reached out to confirm how they would like to be advertised.
Their group name indicated they were a Scottish band, which was not music to my ears.
It appears I overlooked this tiny detail while sending out mass entertainment emails but thought we might as well play it by ear.
He emphasized that their set list mostly consists of traditional Scottish songs (no kidding), but they were willing to incorporate some country music to fit the week’s theme.
On the day of the BBQ, the men entered the courtyard in single file wearing cowboy hats and kilts. KILTS. Two things that:
- Should never be paired together
- I’ve ever seen paired together before
My face was as white as their Scottish legs.
Throughout their performance, the residents tapped their toes and sang along without batting an eye.
At the end of the event a resident approached me to say, “they were great. Not very Stampede-y though.”
Both statements were correct.
It’s the same old song and dance – I made a mistake but at least they came with kilts and not recorders.
