Arlene Shiplett, working with the National Arts Centre out of Ottawa, and living in Saskatoon, was at Borden School Jan. 26, to teach Grades 3 to 6 some basics of classical music with the Music Alive Program that brings the project to students in rural schools.
Shiplett plays with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and with other groups in the city. She helped the students follow the life of Franz Schubert with a time line of his life.
He was born in 1797, was playing piano at the age of seven and composed his first symphony at age of 15. She described some of his outstanding performances, telling the students he composed close to 1,000 pieces before dying at the early age of 31.
Shiplett demonstrated on a French horn the dynamics of music, different tempos and forms. She also talked about music videos and how to compose a rap tune.
After handing out kazoos to everyone, they all performed Green is the Colour. She had found a kazoo in the form of a French horn over the Internet and proudly played it.
She also had five students, using different thicknesses of colored tubes to create different tones, accompany her playing My Puddy Cat.
The students, in groups of four, wrote their own rap song by picking a topic, figuring out the rhyming schemes and using a NAC worksheet. They then performed with a NAC rhythm track from the Internet.
Borden Friendship Club held their monthly potluck supper and birthday celebration Jan. 26, with 32 out to enjoy a delicious meal and to sing Happy Birthday to the January celebrants - Gladys Wensley, Elizabeth Derksen and Lorraine Olinyk. The decorated cake was baked by Ann Palmer.
After supper, a video - Looking Back in Saskatchewan History - was shown. The era depicted went back to the early 1900s with the dam at Prince Albert, tornados, Chinese people in Moose Jaw and Scott's legacy as themes.
A short meeting was held to discuss the Valentine's Telemiracle Tea Feb. 11th, Dalmeny seniors' visit Feb. 24 and the buying of new chairs to go with the tables at the RiverBend Fellowship Church.
Seniors are also helping with the carnival March 5. There will be a jam session/old time dance in the community centre, and the club is responsible for the 6 p.m beef stew supper with the meat being provided. Eileen Petrun is in charge of getting the musicians for the evening. Admission will be by donation and the parks and recreation board will have a bar and will do all the setting up and dishes.
Condolences are extended to the family of Andy Hamilton at Radisson and Borden. He passed away Jan. 25 at the age of 81 years after a four-year battle with Alzheimer's. The service was held at the Lutheran Church in Radisson, with United Church minister Rev. Nora Borgeson presiding. Organist was Linda Hosegood, pianist Mark Bigland-Pritchard and soloist Bob MacKay of North Battleford. After interment in the Radisson cemetery the Radisson Lutheran Church ladies served lunch in the lower hall.
