How often do you see young people these days with their heads buried in their cell phones? All the time, right? Schools have to have 'no cell phone use during class' rules, states have to adopt 'no texting while driving' laws to keep young drivers from killing themselves and others.
So.... last week in Sydney, Nova Scotia (that's in Canada, for you rubes who don't know geography), my wife and I went out to dinner at a pub that has music a few nights a week, but as it was a Tuesday, there was no music scheduled.
We got in to find a large 'private party' set up in one end of the place near the small stage, and a band - female fiddler and male keyboardist - setting up.
This was a group of about 50 middle school band members on a school trip from a large town about 2 hours away. They were being the usual kids while the band got ready (but actually applauded when the fiddler was adjusting her sound and tuning up!), and their food was getting served as the band started, playing mostly Celtic jigs and reels.
By the time they'd finished their meals they were getting into the music, and a couple of the girls got up and danced near the stage. A boy from the band was invited up to play fiddle for a few songs, which had the whole group cheering. The band's final song was '500 Miles' which is a very traditional song to use in Canada to get people to sing along, and this was no exception, the kids were loud and having fun. The band played for almost 2-1/2 hours without a break. I went up and talked to them as they were packing up their gear - two local players who just occasionally played together and had been hired to play this private party.
I talked to one of the teachers and asked if they had a 'no cell phone use' rule in place for this night, and she told me that they didn't (and pointed out that a couple of kids did have their phones out some times). I told her that in the USA, every kid would have been on his phone most of the night. What a nice difference!
So.... last week in Sydney, Nova Scotia (that's in Canada, for you rubes who don't know geography), my wife and I went out to dinner at a pub that has music a few nights a week, but as it was a Tuesday, there was no music scheduled.
We got in to find a large 'private party' set up in one end of the place near the small stage, and a band - female fiddler and male keyboardist - setting up.
This was a group of about 50 middle school band members on a school trip from a large town about 2 hours away. They were being the usual kids while the band got ready (but actually applauded when the fiddler was adjusting her sound and tuning up!), and their food was getting served as the band started, playing mostly Celtic jigs and reels.
By the time they'd finished their meals they were getting into the music, and a couple of the girls got up and danced near the stage. A boy from the band was invited up to play fiddle for a few songs, which had the whole group cheering. The band's final song was '500 Miles' which is a very traditional song to use in Canada to get people to sing along, and this was no exception, the kids were loud and having fun. The band played for almost 2-1/2 hours without a break. I went up and talked to them as they were packing up their gear - two local players who just occasionally played together and had been hired to play this private party.
I talked to one of the teachers and asked if they had a 'no cell phone use' rule in place for this night, and she told me that they didn't (and pointed out that a couple of kids did have their phones out some times). I told her that in the USA, every kid would have been on his phone most of the night. What a nice difference!
My reverbnation site: http://www.reverbnation.com/mikebirchmusic
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/mikebirchmusic
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mikebirchmusic
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/mikebirchmusic
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mikebirchmusic
