Author: Phyllis Diller Stewart

I’ve found myself thinking about school lately. You might feel like stopping right here, but please don’t. The memories are all good — and very musical.

The elementary school I attended had only three classrooms, but educated grades one to eight, which equals a grand total of three teachers. In between academics and recess, we did have “music class” from time to time, but our mostly non-musical teachers struggled through these.

Music specialists occasionally visited, including  Keith Bissell, who introduced us to the Orff Method of music. I loved every moment, but the visits were few and far between. You can only imagine my delight when, in Grade Six, a bright musical light entered our young lives at Hillside Public School.I wrote the following piece about our wonderful Frances McShane for the Word Weaver, a publication of the Writers’ Community of Durham Region.

The words are so glowing that I’m sure you’ll accuse me of embellishment — that the choir was much better in my memory than in reality — but I have proof! Or had. My lovely mother recorded a Kiwanis Music Festival one year, and as an adult, I was amazed at the fine sound of our tiny group compared to the others. How I wish cassette tapes lasted forever. Continue reading “Sing a Song of Sixpence.” →