Page 31 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2020- Online Magazine

work judged grade, my teacher delighted in singing, so with a daily
in shows in six music class, I learned all of her favorite Stephen Foster
different states. songs and more.

In college, I also began taking lessons on the trumpet that year,
I took 16 which I continued throughout high school, in the
semester marching band, orchestra, and a small dance band. I
hours of sang in a ninth-grade operetta and then in our high
silversmithing school chorus.
and jewelry
making and Over the last twenty-five years, I have sung in a
spent far more senior choir in my church, and now, in my retirement
hours outside community, I sing in a small chorus. In addition, during
of class in the last 15 years, I have enjoyed four-part, acapella
developing singing in a chapter of the Barbershop Harmony
this art which Society.
I continued
to pursue As with art, I take advantage of attending the Amarillo
into my adult Symphony, musicals at Amarillo Little Theater,
years. I also Amarillo Chorale, concerts at the Amarillo Civic Center
took classes in and Performing Arts Theater and many other music
clay sculpture, pastels, and oil painting at two different opportunities. There is so much talent in our city, and it
community colleges. I thoroughly enjoyed each of is a real joy to take advantage of it.
these means of creative expression. My primary artistic
joy continues now in my later years in woodcarving a I encourage you to play your guitar or saxophone, sing
wide range of subjects and using acrylic and watercolor in your shower or as part of a group, singing to others
paints or natural finishes to enhance them. for their joy. But more than that. Singing strengthens the
immune system, is a workout, improves your posture,
Throughout my life, I have been blessed by being able helps with sleep, is a natural antidepressant, lowers
to travel to many of the world's finest art museums, stress levels, improves mental alertness, widens your
including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in circle of friends, boosts your confidence, broadens
New York City; the Museums of Art in Cleveland, communication skills, and increases your ability to
Philadelphia, and Denver; The Art Institute in Chicago; appreciate other singers.**
the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.; the British
Museum in London; the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy; It is never too late to get out and enjoy music - to sing
the Vatican Museums in Vatican City; and the State and/or to play a musical instrument; it is never too late
Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. Here at home, the to learn a new artistic skill - and to enrich your life as
Amarillo Museum of Art at Amarillo College annually you explore the fantastic world of art by becoming a
presents a wide variety of exhibits. With each visit, I part of it.
come away enriched and inspired. Let me now suggest
to readers that, even if you don't pursue one of the arts,
you can have hours of enjoyment through virtual visits *Online quote by Colin Barras, 7 Sept. 2014
to more than 2,500 art museums online.
**Online reference - "Surprising Health Benefits of Singing"
In third grade I started taking piano lessons, which I
continued for the next several years. And in seventh

Amarillo Senior Link 31