Getting into Music: Music in Rural Communities
By Erin Pajunen Jones
This article is written by Erin Pajunen Jones, who lives on a farm just outside the small Saskatchewan community of Lucky Lake. Last year, as the local minister created online resources for their congregation, he asked the Jones boys to participate, and they did. The Lord of the Dance starts at 21:21.
Catherine asked Erin to reflect on how it is for young people from rural communities to get into music as our resources may be less than urban areas. Many of you may resonate with what she says.
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Life in rural Saskatchewan has changed as its population has decreased, with the opportunity to learn and experience music being no exception.
Music surrounded my boys from before they were born and continued with enthusiasm as they grew. Disappointment came when the community band folded (the school band program had been removed from the curriculum about fifteen years earlier) and their piano instructor quit teaching. Although they were not yet old enough to be in band, I had planned for the boys to be a part of the community program. As preparation on their piano pieces for an annual music festival showed us, lessons at home with me were NOT an option. We hit a brick wall.
To continue reading this article please visit the UCRMN website.
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