Bring together a group of giddy young adults, a bunch of percussion instruments, a guitar, songs to sing and the willingness to go with the flow and you have the ingredients for a fun time. At least, that was the case yesterday when I sang with the gang from Post High for the last time of the school year. (that explains some of their giddiness --summer break is in view)
We warmed by singing our favorite songs like "Stand by Me," "Lean on Me," "My Girl," "Lion Sleeps Tonight," then I got out my percussion instruments and we became a big merry band. They played percussion along with some uptempo songs like, "Down by the Riverside," "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain," and then we just jammed on the drums for awhile. Each of them got a turn leading by playing the red drum (pictured above) while the rest of us played along. I was struck how each of us has our own sense of rhythm and way of expressing that. Each person became a leader without using words but the sound of a beat they chose. Some were more slow and deliberate, others more refined, others a bit wild. Perhaps the most memorable moment was when one girl whose disability prevents her from participating without assistance laughed uncontrollably while playing the drum with the help of a classmate. Her laughter was contagious.
After that a few of them got up and sang a song by themselves. It was a funny sight to see them using their percussion instruments for their pretend microphone. One girl had us all laughing when she used a hand cymbal for her microphone and tried to sing, "Amazing Grace" without cracking up. She had to do two "do-overs." Another girl sang while gesturing with her arms and made all kinds of faces opera singers make, all the while she didn't know an audience from outside in the hall were watching her. We all laughed and clapped at the end as she took a deep bow and laughed at her own silliness.
I feel lucky to have these times with them!
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