May.
Evokes different things for different people. Some simultaneously. I live in a house like that.
There's May Day celebrating workers around the world. Beltane and the May Day dances around the May Pole with images of Morris Dancers, girls in bright ribbons and flowers filling social media. May the 4th falling on International Comic Day has brought an even bigger frenzy of Star Wars memes and heckling between Star Wars and Trekkies into the social media world. My kids will make the trek down to their favourite comic stores to collect their free comics with relish and delight....
Spring - well, sort of spring - the magnolia trees have come and gone, the street is littered with blossoms from apple, cherry and plum trees and the purple lilacs are poking out. People are hedging bets and planting their vegetables, risk takers even already have their tomatoes out. Hanging basket fundraisers at school will take delivery of thousands of baskets across the southern coast and distribute to parents eager for colour in their gardens.
May is full of colour, emerging warmth, and possibility.
Now, some of you know I was raised in a house full of very creative and 'hippy' teachers - my mother was an art school teacher passionate about making art accessible not only to her own students but to other teachers. Her master's was dedicated to creating modules for non-art teachers to use in their classrooms in a friendly exciting and amazing way. Drama and speech arts was how I was treated for a very bad stutter and I grew up on the stage. My sister Cathy lept on my grandfather's lap during a tv viewing of classical music, grabbed him by the collar and said, "Grandfather, I must play the violin". She did - incredibly well. My sister Michelle breathed drama and makeup. One of my best friends was not only in every band at school but the local symphony and went on to become a music teacher. The inclusion of art, drama, music and dance is a no brainer to me - like the very air we breath.
So in May, in my own grownup house with my two boys, May is mostly about celebrating artistic performance. Normally this just involved the boys dance classes, music festivals, dress rehearsals, costume excitement and the actual dance recitals - usually about the same time as the hanging baskets show up for mother's day.... it is also normally about picking out costumes and learning choreography for my own dance class(es) as the end of the year recital and summer events draw ever closer.
This year May is also about the culmination of my eldest's first experience with a large scale school/community production. After a hiatus of over 5 years, his high school has taken on a musical - complete with a pit band. A. Pit. Band. Now for many folks this is nothing to be plused about but for those of of us that grew up on the school and community theatre stage in smaller communities - this is a big deal. And it's not just my son's school - it seems every single high school in the city is doing a musical with a pit band. I am blown away by the commitment and dedication and PURE EFFORT this has taken by cast, musicians, teachers and crew. Hours and hours of rehearsals - at lunchtime, after school, Sundays... it's been an amazing process to watch my eldest go through and brought back so many memories for me.
And just as about the curtains were about to rise on opening night, word that Edmonton's school board is cutting funding to it's
music enrichment program. It was and is an affront and a blow to every bone in my body as a parent in this rich country where I have experienced and seen how the arts, drama and music can keep children engaged in the education process, enriching their lives, making them stronger adults and in some cases, even just keeping them in school period. I hope they find away to keep the program going. Kids need music. Adults need music. Schools need music. Period. I don't know what the outcome will be, I don't know how effective letters to the board and
petitions will be. I hope they are. Truly truly I hope they are and the program is saved. Not just saved, but gets back to a place where every middle and high school in Edmonton has a full blown music program so students don't have to travel on buses to other schools for their music involvement. (whole other rant - that one).
Last night I sat in the audience on opening night of Guys and Dolls at my son's school in awe as the pit band and cast and crew weaved magic. No, it wasn't perfect but it was magic nonetheless. Each participant on the stage shone in their own ways and made the story their own. I sat in the audience and every fibre in my body screamed... this. this is why Schools need music. And drama. And art. Every bit as much as they need sports and environmental and language programs to augment the 'academics'. We want a society filled with responsible, respectful, well rounded understanding people. It starts at home, it starts in their communities as they grow, it starts at school. Celebrate what your children participate in - sports, arts, academics, chess club, quidditch, gardening. Celebrate them and watch how they shine.
So this May as local stages are filled with music and dance festivals, musicals and plays... head on down to your local school, buy a $10 ticket and sit and just sit and appreciate the beautiful gift that arts bring to our children. Take your kids or nieces and nephews to a museum or outdoor concert this summer. Take in a recital at the local conservatory, sit and watch a busker. Just sit, watch, appreciate the effort and love these people have for what they are doing. Support all arts in our schools. Volunteer, buy hanging baskets and raffle tickets and chocolate, go to their performances.... And watch our future generations shine.
And yes, if you're wondering... my son's school production rocked.
Neither of my boys do ballet at the moment but they both started
there. The 16 year old began ballet at 3 in a local recreation centre
class in what turns out was an all-girl studio. When the word 'got out'
he was teased by some children in kindergarten. It could have ended
then and there for him but that Christmas, I took him to see the
Nutcracker. Within seconds of the curtain going up, he clutched my arm
with astonishment and joy - "MOM! There are BOYS dancing!" And that was
that. We did end up moving to a different studio when he was 5 because
it had all boy jazz and tap classes and he still taps there today. Now
back in mixed classes (ok, often it is just him and some lovely teenage
girls, not a bad gig for a 16 year old boy), last year he received his ten year attendance trophy from his
studio. Last fall some people in our sphere were surprised that he
wanted to register again. But I think for him now, the studio and the
people he has grown up dancing with or around is a bit of a special
familiar place. I like to think that anyways.
