Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-01-28, Page 15- U.. SIC LV BY JOANNE BUCHANAN Did you know that Joe Clark, Leader of the Opposition, hies the music, of Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and the Canadian Brass? Or thatEngland's Prime Minister; Margaret Thatcher, enjoys music by Chopin and Beethoven? Or that Canadian author Farley Mowat likes the bagpipes, folk songs and, 18th century classical music? • Now you know. And so do 93 Grade 8 music students at Robertson Memorial Public SchooL Their project was to write letters to two 'notable' people each and ask them what their favorite kind of ripple is. - They had to find thCeddresses on .their own and provide the stamps. The letters were sent out in September and every day a few more replies trickle in • along with pictures, autographs and pamphlets. Some of thistuclents have been disappointed at not receiving anything at all and are still waiting for answers from people like Primie Minister Trudeau and Queen Elizabeth H. • Teacher Al Leggatt says the project provided the students with maximum enjoyment for minimum cost and some, of them are still writing letters just out of curiosity. The project also - taught the students that not everyone likes the same kind of music. "They couldn't figure out why not .everyone likes the same kind of music as they do and why punk rock and rock and roll weren't MenOoned more," explains Leggatt- •" " For example, Ontario Premier Bill Davis, wrote to Pam Bender telling her that he "es Dixieland Jazz music. The ---607the ielfarnotie7.? students didn't know what that was so it prompted discussion. Williant Bennett, British Columbia's Premier, in a politician's typical non- committal style, told Kim Carman that he likes "all categories" of Music and sent her a lapel pin awl a maga7ine on B_C Area politicians were written to also. MurrayCardiff, MP for Huron -Bruce, told Janet,Stainton that he likes most classical, operatic and contemporary music but confessed that he doesn't care for Grand Ole Opry style music. Jack Riddell', MPP for Huron - Middlesex, wrote to Dulcie Mero that he prefers country and western music and Wormed - her that some farmers play Music in their barns all day long because tests have proven that livestock perform better to music., Doug Lounsbwry, 'who served as a page • at Queen's Park recently, wrote to- two politicianyThe speaker at Queen's Park, Jack Stokes, told Doug that he likes the •London Philharmonic Orchestra and Strauss waltzes. He said his favorite female singer is Nana Mouskouri and his favorite male singer is Luciano Pavarotti. • Michael Cassidy, leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, wrote to Doug saying he enjoys Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and opera. He also saktthat his children have taught him to enjoy the Beatles and even Led Zeppelin occasionally. Todd Finnie wrote to Canada's NDP leader, Ed Broadbent and learned that he likes classical rausic, Hach and operas. Along with a letter from English Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's secretary, Derek Hqwe, student Andrew Cox received an autographed photograph and learned thed • Go ench Andrew Cox and Lisa Baechler were two of 93 music students at Robertson School who took on a project to write to two famous people each and ask them what their favorite kind of music is. Andrew received a reply from Britain's Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher and Lisa received a reply from former U.S: President Jimmy Carter's daughter, Amy. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) that Mrs. Thatcher used to sing in the Bach Choir at Oxford University. Lisa Baechler wrote teat Amy Carter, former US. President Jimmy Carter's daughter. Sne received a letter from Margaret J. McGuire, Director of Correspondence for Mrs. Carter, along with a photograph and a booklet on the White House but clid not get an answer to her questionabout music. Local politicians written to included Goderich's Mayor Harry Worsell. He told the students that he likes brass marching bands, highland bands, drum and bugle corps, sacred music, country and western, and school musicals but not opera, rock and roll or disco. 'Former Goderich Reeve Eileen Palmer told Lisa Baechler that she enjoys music ranging from light clagaical to 'a little bit country'. - • Politicians weren't the only ones written to. Athletes and television stars were also polled. Roger Staubach, former quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys, told Rob Collinson that he likes claasical, popular and country and western music and that his favorite Canadian singer is Anne Murray. A group of students including Dale Balaski, Dave Smith, Chuck Phillips, Shawn Garrick and Steve Gedcke, wrote to hockey star Borje Sahning and received a reply from Maple Leaf team secretary, Pam Gordon saying that Borje likes any type of 'easy -listening' music and sending a nuinber of photographs. John Freeman wrote to Johnny Carson and received a letter from the Tonight Show correspondent saying that because Jahnnv receives so many letters, he is unable to answer. Karen Campbell wrote to the stars of Dallas and received an autographed picture but no answer to her question. Jamey Sturdy wrote to the stars of Eight is Enough and received a family portrait of the Bradfords but no an.swer, to his question. Annette Lefneski wrote to Wintario host nd television commercial star Faye ance and was told that she likes classical mlisic by Strauss and Beethoven and popular music by Paul Williams, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand and Willie Nelson. She also said- she liked fifties music but not disco. Annette also wrote to Peter Trueman, Global newsman, and received a reply from his assistant, Sylvia Morley saying that Truman likes classical music, Linda ,Wietie wrote to' Dick Parton; a disc jockey with CKLW in Windsor and although Parton plays the latest rock and roll tunes on his program, Linda learned that his favorite music is Big Band Jazz. Linda also wrote to Brian Elmslie, host of CKNX's cotnifi-y rnusic program in Wingham. His favorite kind of music are the country and western tunes he plays. lle doesn't like punk rock or new wave music. He broke musical sounds down into dif- ferent eras and explained to the students Why a person born into a certain era would probably hie a certain type of music. Leggatt said this was a most helpful ex- planation to his students. •And last but not least, Debbie Barz wrote ' to Signal -Star's Shirley Keller who told the students that she liked the big band sound, songs from the swing era and sacred music. IGNAL U3 YEAR -4 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28,1981 The funny side of drama At first glimpse of the surrounding photographs, it appears that certahl GDCI students have gone stark raving mad. Not so! ' They are simply learning how to be entertaining. Last Thursday, the St. Lawrence Centre Players, a professional acting troupe from Toronto, conducted a workshop at GDCI in which Theatre Arts students took part. The pros put the students through various exercises designed to relax their bodies and strengthen their voices, and helped them to put together original plays using headines from a newspaper. The St. Lawrence players have been touring several schools conducting these workshops hoping to help 'develop young Canadian theatre talent. SECONDSECTIONJ Photos by Cath Wooden Kym Johnson and Tony Lourenco pantomime a drinking and driving couple during last Thursday's theatre arts workshop conducted by the St. Lawrence professional acting group from Toronto. Kym Johnson proves here that even tongues can use some fresh air once in a while, Mark Blaney looks Into, the camera with whet can be termed as a sll ytt lack of faith In the exercises he Is • submitting tie. Students Greg Wilson, Allison Bain and Lori Dykstra • await direction from the St, Lav;Tetice Centre Players on an impromptu play. The workshop was held at GDCI last week. (photo by Cath Wooden) Who knows what this professional actor from Toronto and GDCI theatre arts student Theresa Donnelly may be acting out?