The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

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Kitchen band

The third-graders scurry into the music room and settle themselves cross-legged on the floor. A dozen musicians sit in a semi-circle in front of them. One holds a bottomless iron with large bells attached. Another grips two spoons in one hand and a shiny pot lid in the other. A man holds two empty coffee cans and wooden salad servers. The piano suddenly pours out a melody and the room comes alive. The Fergus Falls Senior Citizen Center Kitchen Band is in action. Mostly matching in red shirts and dark pants, the senior citizens tap, shake, pound and pluck their improvised instruments and captivate the children’s attention. &uot;They have cool instruments,&uot; said 9-year-old Chelsey Enderly. &uot;They sound good together.&uot; For half an hour the musicians perform polkas and folk songs, sometimes singing along. The children clap and soon a second third-grade class has wandered into the back of the room and taken seats on the floor. &uot;I like their music because it is interesting and they have instruments I haven’t seen before,&uot; said Adam Tietz, 8. Thursday afternoon’s performance at Adams Elementary School was one of many interactions between Lynette Ringquist’s class and members of the Center. Both groups meet once per month, either at the school or Center, and usually with a different crowd of senior citizens, depending on the activity. They are part of the Adopt-A-Class program and have numerous opportunities to share activities such as Bingo, crafts, Christmas carols, skits and of course, the Kitchen Band. Ringquist shared her class last year with the Senior Citizen Center and found it was a success for both parties. &uot;They requested me again this year because we had such a good time,&uot; she said. &uot;We just enjoy having activities with them each month.&uot; After each meeting, Ringquist says the children and senior citizens share a snack and time to visit. And instead of matching students up with senior citizens, Ringquist’s encourages everyone to mingle. &uot;That way they get to know a lot of people instead of just one person,&uot; she said. Ane Hanley, Kitchen Band pianist, said she’s been playing for 11 years, but the band is actually 26 years old. They practice once each week at the Senior Citizen Center, except for when they have outside performances like Thursday’s. Hanley said this month is especially busy, with one performance every week. In addition to Adams, they are playing at Pioneer Retirement Community, the Minnesota Veterans’ Home and Lake Region Hospital. Drum player Earl Hendrickson joined a few months ago. &uot;I thought it was kind of fun to get in and help them out,&uot; he said. What does it take to join the Kitchen Band? &uot;You have to have rhythm,&uot; Hanley said. &uot;That’s all. We have the instruments.&uot; amanda.parise@fergusfallsjournal.com