Join in ... with Murray Bridge Children's Choir
Tammy and Charlotte Mathie invite you to come and sing in Murray Bridge.
“Join In” aims to promote community connections and wellbeing in the Murraylands – and it could promote your business, too. Murray Bridge News is seeking an ongoing sponsor for this regular feature. Call Peri on 0419 827 124 or email peri@murraybridge.news.
Children parade in a circle in a rehearsal room, waving colourful scarves around as Alex Westlake plays a tranquil melody on a piano.
It is the sort of scene you might see through one of the four windows on Play School: kids laughing, learning.
“In order for us to be a dragon I’m going to need really good listeners,” Pamela Valerio calls out, a colourful Chinese dragon’s head in hand in the days after the lunar new year.
“You have to watch where our little train goes ... whichever way the dragon dips, you have to dip, too.”
She bobs and weaves, up and down, side to side: “can you make your body dip this way and that way, and go down low and up high?”
The music starts again and the parade begins anew, five-, six- and seven-year-olds following along.
This is not the sort of choir their parents were brought up on.
Among the children in the junior choir is Charlotte Mathie, who pauses with her mum Tammy for a chat afterwards.
When did you first get involved with the children’s choir?
Tammy: Charlotte has been doing it since she was four, so kindy ... She loved singing and dancing, but I thought doing choir would be a bit more relaxed and fun than dance lessons.
What do you get out of your involvement?
Charlotte: Pretty much you get to do singing and playing. I enjoyed that little dragon dance.
Tammy: It certainly builds up her confidence and self-esteem ... Once we’re here it’s like “I don’t want to go”. She loves it. She loves performing when they do performances in front of people, like the Rockleigh Christmas carols and the carols down at Sturt Reserve. She did the (Murray Bridge) Fringe last year – she was out there doing her moves. It was fantastic ... She has gone from hiding behind Pam at performances to being right out there at the front.
What is your fondest memory of your time with the choir?
Charlotte: Singing the goodbye song (each week). Singing for people.
Tammy: Singing at the Christmas carols was pretty fun.
What do you spend your time doing each week?
Charlotte: We just sometimes sing songs. We write songs, learn new songs ... I pretty much have the best time ever.
What is your goal as a singer?
Charlotte: I want to be what Pam is, a singing teacher. I would work in there (the Steeple at Unity College). I would only do it for big kids, not little kids.
Why should people join Murray Bridge Children’s Choir?
Charlotte: If you just want to sing songs for people, it’s fun.
Tammy: It’ll help boost kids’ confidence. Now we know if it comes to doing public speaking in class she’s not as nervous.
More information: Visit www.mbchildrenschoir.com.au or search for Murray Bridge Children’s Choir on Facebook.
“Join In” aims to promote community connections and wellbeing in the Murraylands – and it could promote your business, too. Murray Bridge News is seeking an ongoing sponsor for this regular feature. Call Peri on 0419 827 124 or email peri@murraybridge.news.
