Why Wouldn't We... Participate

Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Memories and Music Program

Who wouldn’t want to be the elderly person in this picture, being escorted into their seat by a young person, to watch and receive an original song about your life? Then again, what young person wouldn’t want the chance to learn new skills, build a wonderful relationship, have fun and be a part of something bigger than him or herself?

The Bridging the Gap, Memories and Music Program gave the Georgetown District High School Vocal Music students such an opportunity and much more. In early September, the music class was asked if they wanted to participate in a memories and music project. ALL hands went up.

In this project, the students would interview local seniors, write, compose and record the songs and, finally, perform them in front of the seniors and their families. This was a vocal class with only a third of the students having any musical experience.

When asked about their decision to participate, the students' response was, "What wouldn't we want to do this project? A change to get new creative real...why wouldn't we?"

- Nora Zylstra-Savage, Storylines

www.story-lines.ca

To view a video collage of students performances, click here.