Uniting Through the Power of Music
Musical Diversity at the Godnick Adult Center
On these special Wednesdays, musicians gather with an array of instruments. Some strum guitars, while others fiddle or play the harmonica. The variety of sounds fills the air, creating a vibrant and inclusive musical atmosphere. It's not just about the individual performances but the collective energy that flows through the room.Members of the Wild Woods Music Co-op, founded in 1993, have been coming together for years. The group's commitment to creating a safe and encouraging space for music has endured through the years. Regulars start arriving around 7 p.m., engaging in easy banter as they prepare their instruments. This sense of community is palpable as they find their guitar picks and set up music stands.
When the music truly begins at 7:15, it's a sight to behold. Sumio Seo, from Wallingford, picks up his fiddle and starts a lively jig, instantly getting everyone's toes tapping. This is not a random jam session but a two-hour-long song circle where each musician takes turns performing something they've prepared. The rest of the group listens attentively, provides feedback, and when invited, joins in.
The Core and Newcomers in the Group
Rutland resident Gus Bloch has been a part of Wild Woods for 20 years and is currently the group's leader. He emphasizes the group's openness to all abilities, stating, "There's a lot of talent in this room. The most unusual thing about it is we are open to any ability and I really like that about the group. If someone comes in a novice, they're going to be in a place that respects what they're trying to do no matter what it is."Bruce Douglas, a retired science teacher from Chittenden, shares his experience. "It really feels like family," he says. "There's a core that has been together for quite a while, but we've also got some new people who are really excellent musicians." His wife, Molly, sings and has been learning to play the ukulele. She adds, "I know I will intently watch somebody, how they strum and, 'OK, how can I, how can I replicate that?'"
For Bruce Douglas, the Wednesday song circles are a trip down memory lane. "I'm a child of the '60s. When I was in college, I just hung out with a group of people, there was a banjo player, mandolin player, harmonica players. And you know, you'd be sitting there and you'd pick up the mandolin and you'll show me a few chords, and pretty soon you knew three chords, and you could play the mandolin, and it's just fun."
Practice and Performance at Home
Bruce and Molly Douglas live in Chittenden and have been coming to the Wild Woods song circle for years. They practice at home together, working on songs to perform for the group. Molly says, "It's part of the fun. I have a Irish tenor banjo that I can play a few chords on, and I've actually tried playing it there, because it's a safe audience and they're very supportive when you go in there and give something new a try."On a recent Wednesday night, the playlist included a wide range of songs from old folk tunes to hits by Joni Mitchell, Irving Berlin, and Fats Waller. When Rutland Town resident Ron Pulcer begins to play "White Christmas", he tells the group that as a skier, he wants to send good vibes to Killington and asks everyone to sing along, which they do with enthusiasm.
Emotional Moments in the Song Circle
It can be an emotional experience as well. Duke Maxwell brings his guitar from Springfield for these sessions. He lost his wife four years ago this Christmas, and some of the songs remind him of her. "But it's also kind of a therapeutic thing, to be able to play those things and express those things and kind of, you know, get them out," he says.Research shows that playing music, learning a new instrument, and socializing regularly can all help fight aging, depression, and the onset of dementia. This is evident in the faces and stories of the musicians at the Wild Woods song circle.
The Impact on Health and Well-being
Seventy-four-year-old Blair Enman, a retired civil engineer, agrees. "Oh I think it's fantastic for my health. I look at my music because I can play that until the last day I live." He plays every day to relieve stress and get lost in the music.A self-described left-brained, linear thinker, Enman says playing in the song circle gets him out of his comfort zone. "I get to express myself, be a little vulnerable … do something that I wouldn't normally do and play music with a bunch of other people. It's wonderful. I mean you sing, you play, you put your heart and soul into it and then at the end, everybody gives you a round of applause."
Heres Crow and her husband Mekenok, regulars from Castleton, performed several folk songs on a recent Wednesday. Their passion for music shines through as they share their talent with the group.
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