Community School Teaches the Importance of Music

Each Saturday the Winchester Farmers' Market not only brings fresh produce and goods to the town, but it also provides musical entertainment on the Common.

"People who wouldn't even normally come out to the market do because of it, " said Sara Ferguson, the entertainment coordinator for the farmers market.

This week the Winchester Community Music School was invited to the common. In the morning they held an "Early Childhood Music Sampler" that was geared toward introducing children from the ages of two to eight to music. In the afternoon Rita Wong, a music therapist at the school, organized a Drum Circle.

"We're bringing music to the community both to have fun and to learn," said Valerie Walton, the Outreach Marketing Assistant from the school. "Music builds confidence when they try something hard and get it."

Although everyone involved sais they wished more adults had attended the event, the focus shifted to teaching the children there some of the basics on both drums and percussion.

One adult who was in attendance and excited to participate, was Joshua Dobbelaar, a musician who is a member of a classic rock and soul band, Up.

"I haven't had a chance to play the drum in a long time so I thought it'd be a lot of fun," Dobbelaar said. "Playing yourself is one thing, but with a group it's magic."

Dobbelaar took the lead at one point, performing in the middle of the circle and demonstrating for the children how the drum is played.

It was Rita Wong, though, who held the children's attention for most of the session, as she enthusiastically provided instruction.

"I have two daughters here," Ruth Rosenholtz said.  "She's doing a great job of teaching them."

Rita Wong is a therapist who helps people improve their behavior through music.

"We focus on what people need," Wong said. "For some it might be the need to focus, for others they might need expression. We then utilize musical tools to realize these goals in parents, children or those with special needs."

On this Saturday the goal on the common was to introduce the children to the drums and to connect with the residents in town who have supported the Winchester Community Music School.

"We bring music back to them, to the people that help us in the community," Valerie Walton said.

And that's just one ingredient that has made the farmers market on Winchester Common an ongoing success.

"We always come out on the weekend, and enjoy the music," Ruth Rosenholtz said.  "It's great."