ON THE TOWN
Making Music for the Soul at Centrum I have always loved to sing. As a child beautiful place—and in a welcoming, with my mother, dueting on “The nonjudgmental atmosphere. Eensy Weensy Spider.” In grammar That place was Centrum, the school chorus. Later, playing a small nonprof it arts center located in role in a student production of The a converted military base in Port Music Man. And in the coffee house Townsend, Wash. Centrum hosts many where I strummed on a guitar programs for writers and other BY MISHA and crooned folk songs with my arts practitioners throughout BERSON high school friends. the year. But what beckoned As an adult journalist and teacher, to me was their participatory summer I was delighted to interview some music programs. They were like wonderful jazz singers and lecture summer camps for teens and adults, about their contributions to the field. but promised a full immersion into But for a very long time, I only rarely music for several days or a week, with raised my voice in song. instruction from seasoned professional Then, in my 50s, when my husband musicians and instructors. formed an ad hoc band with a few It takes some courage to pipe up and fellow middle-aged friends, the singer sing out in front of others. But I took in me awakened. And eventually I was a leap and signed up for Vocal Works, fortunate to discover a place in Western a five-day program at Centrum that Washington for passionate amateurs revived my love of vocalizing. I stayed like me to learn and share music in a in a former barracks with women who
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3rd Act magazine | summer 2022
Centrum’s summer workshops welcome instrumentalists and vocalists of every age and ability. Photos courtesy of Centrum.
ranged in age from their teens to their 70s, and in experience from dedicated musicians to more casual singers like me. I took classes in jazz and folk during the days, jammed with musicians in the evenings, and on the last night heard our teachers perform a joyous concert. www.3rdActMag.com
