聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Redvers and District Music Festival was hosted from Monday, April 16, to Friday, April 20.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This is a feature in the community, which has been held for nearly 55 years 鈥� the first one being held in 1964 according to past president Leanne Poirier.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There are a mere seven people on the executive and they are looking for more.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲hat is that adage?鈥� Carroll Dyck asked rhetorically. 鈥淢any hands make light work.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking for more people to help,鈥� Poirier said. 鈥淚n any capacity. Even if people are just willing to do smaller jobs in the organization of the festival it would lighten the load. And if people are willing to join the board they鈥檒l see what鈥檚 all needed and it鈥檚 not as scary as people think. You learn what鈥檚 needed and take on more responsibilities as you鈥檙e comfortable to.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Both Dyck and Poirier agreed that over the years there鈥檚 been an increase in the number of surrounding communities that attend the Redvers and District Music Festival. Although, the band entries are balanced as the majority of those are entered from Redvers. So, it is truly a Redvers and District Music Festival.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to be in Redvers to help or be on the committee,鈥� Dyck 鈥� who is the band/music teacher at Redvers School, lives in Carlyle 鈥� explains.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Poirier added, 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to be in Redvers or have kids in the event, Amy [Poirier鈥檚 daughter] finished four years ago, but if you enjoy organizing events or see the importance of music in life then it鈥檚 something to maybe consider. And you don鈥檛 have to know how to play an instrument, that鈥檚 for the kids to do.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 So, why encourage youth to pick up an instrument and learn how to play?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭here鈥檚 so many adults who say they wish they wouldn鈥檛 have quit,鈥� Poirier explained. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always that hump that kids have to get over before they鈥檙e happy that they stuck with it; but, the festival encourages public speaking and allows them to work towards something.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Dyck added, 鈥淭here鈥檚 no doubt that kids who go in for solos, duets, and trios, I see a huge difference from the end of January to here in overall playing. It pushes them to the next level.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Poirier continued, 鈥淪ay for piano too, you need more than your recital to perfect a song, so the festival is a good goal to work towards. It鈥檚 always good to learn and be in front of a crowd. Their self confidence will improve and they鈥檒l realize that being up in front of a crowd isn鈥檛 a big deal and be able to do it in other areas of their life. This is also a very supportive crowd for the kids too.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Dyck and Poirier agreed that one of the main benefits of learning a music is that is a lifelong skill: 鈥淎nd who doesn鈥檛 like music?鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Music has also been shown to correspond to other skills like mathematics and activates different parts of the brain.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If interested in being a part of the Redvers and District Music Festival committee, Dyck and Poirier say, 鈥淚t鈥檚 always good to have new ideas and enthusiasm for what we do.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Dyck added, 鈥淚 started with the festival in 1998 and there鈥檚 been little changes with the times, and change is good, but we don鈥檛 get those is we have the same people every time.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The committee works a lot on their own as well meeting when necessary, but there is not a standing weekly or monthly meeting; which the ladies say is nice as peoples鈥� lives can be quite busy.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 very worthwhile,鈥� Poirier adds. 鈥淚鈥檇 hate to see it not be on. I鈥檇 hate to see the kids miss out; so we just keep chugging along.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e鈥檇 like to thank all of the businesses of Redvers, Carlyle, and surrounding communities for donations, selling our programs in stores, and their support. It鈥檚 also a typical small town and we have many people willing to help during the festival. We appreciate all of their help and they support us in many ways, but we are in need of people willing to join the committee.鈥�
