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Music magic at the Geezer Forum

by PAUL GRAVES / Contributing Writer
| December 7, 2023 1:00 AM

As I look forward to next week’s Geezer Forum on Dec. 12, I begin to think about the magic of music. Our monthly gathering, you see, will be a relaxing, enjoyable time of simply listening to music performed by two well-known groups in Bonner County.

The Old Time Fiddlers will be with us, and so will the Jazz Choir from Sandpoint High School! More about them in a moment. First, allow me to remind you of something about the magical experience we call “music.”

I came across a website called “Doing Good Together.” The folks here advocate for children in many ways, not the least of which is the encouragement of music in their lives. Their newsletter about music invited parents to have intentional conversations with their children about music. I think the suggested questions might be helpful for the musical child that lives in us, too:

1. Why do you think music can make us so happy — or sometimes so sad? Can you think of when music has inspired strong feelings in you?

2. What are your favorite kinds of music? Why do you think you’re drawn to a particular kind of music?

3. Why do you think music is so important to people? What role does music play in making our world a better place?

4. How can we use music to lift someone’s spirits? How does music make a difference in our community?

This last question seems especially pertinent at next Tuesday’s Geezer Forum. When we meet in the Community Room of Umpqua Bank, 2:30-4 p.m. Dec. 12, we’ll delight to many types of music. They can each make a difference to us – and our community – in their own unique ways.

We’ll close our forum music feast with the Jazz Choir from Sandpoint High School. For many years, director Jon Brownell has developed a very high-quality choral sound from generations of high school students. They will no doubt share some Christmas music arranged as jazz and swing music. Jon and his students will be with us after 3:30 (They have school, you know.)

For the majority of our forum, the Old-Time Fiddlers will share their renditions of old country music, gospel music, some Celtic songs, some cowboy songs, and many waltzes. Most of the group members are of the geezer demographic. But there a few younger musicians eager to continue the musical magic they’ve discovered in the music and relationships of the Old-Time Fiddlers.

The OTFs have a standing gig at the Sandpoint Senior Center on the last Saturday of each month from 3 to 5 p.m. Twenty to thirty players show up for these “play times.” The group will likely be smaller next Tuesday, but they’ll be enthusiastic, and we will enjoy their offerings. Guaranteed!

Please consider being with us at the Geezer Forum next Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2:30-4 p.m. in the Umpqua Bank’s Community Room. We’ll smile at the music, and may even share some stories and musical memories. All of that will make some degree of difference in our personal lives, and in our community.


Paul Graves, M.Div., is Lead Geezer-in-Training of Elder Advocates, a consulting ministry on aging issues. Paul can be contacted at 208-610-4971 or elderadvocates@nctv.com.