Holmes County Training Center focuses on music during annual talent show

  • By Dave Mast
  • March 25, 2010
  • 516
                        
For one morning, during one talent show, the importance of hitting every note perfectly, staying on perfect pitch and reciting each line of a song word for word took a back seat to the sheer joy of performing. That was the case at the Holmes County Training Center (HCTC), on Thursday, March 18, where dozens of clients and staff participated in an event which has grown to become a crowd favorite. “You look at all of the smiles, and see all of the people here having a great time, and you can see why music is such an important part of what we do here at the training center,” said Cindy McCauley, the school’s principal. “It is so much fun to see all of the students in here having a great time, whether they are singing, playing an instrument or just watching.” Included in the day’s entertainment schedule was the student body rendition of Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Lisa Kurtz on the bells, HCTC Superintendent Scott Brace’s rendition of the Muscle and Arm Song, the primary department’s Silly Pizza Song, some sign language music, skits, several solos and the grand finale: a lights-out version of YMCA by the training center staff, complete with glow sticks. While pretty much everyone has a very relaxing, fun time during talent show day, perhaps the one person who is on pins and needles is Molly Starner, music therapist at HCTC, who has to develop the program for the day. Yet despite the pressing issue of putting all of the acts together, including six that came in at the 11th hour, Starner said she enjoys the day as much as everyone else, because of the way music is able to transcend barriers and make connections with people. “Music is everywhere at the training center,” said Starner. “We use it in therapy, it’s in the gym for exercise, we integrate it into our academic programs and we can use it with the SMART boards. I can’t think of one place here where we don’t use music, either in education, as a form of rehabilitation or relaxation.” Starner said one of the reasons they enjoy talent day is because it allows students the opportunity to showcase their talents, as well as enjoying the musical skills of others, including the staff. The smiles, cheers and laughter during the show made it evident that the meaning behind the event was hitting the intended mark. Because music is such a universal language, which can overcome all kinds of language barriers, whether it is creating excitement, used as a soothing technique or helping to get kids engaged, music continues to be a huge part of what the training center provides for its students. “The talent show has always been very dear to all of us because it creates a time for everyone here to connect in so many ways,” said Starner. “And music is at the heart of it all. Our goal is to make a day that will be memorable for everyone, and you could tell that almost everyone here was engaged and having a great time.”


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