Page 10 - Go lifestyle and leisure Doncaster Free Press 20170713

Thursday,July13,2017 www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk
DoncasterFreePress 55
features
A er over 40 years living and working in Doncaster, musi- cian Janet Wood knows the town well and the town knows her.
During this time, she’s worked with thousands of people living in the borough.
Janet has worked with peo- ple across Doncaster includ- ing pupils, teachers, children and adults with learning dis- abilities.
She is now a core artist at- DARTS (Doncaster Commu- nity Arts) and leads the or- ganisation’s Quirky Choir.
On her rst memories
I arrived in Doncaster in 1974 and lived in a at which is now part of the Regent Hotel. On the opposite side of South Parade you’ll see The Point, home of DARTS, and this has been my creative home in the town for over 20 years. Before I became an artist
with DARTS, I was a teacher at Hay eld School, Don- caster Road Mexborough Junior School, Sandringham First School, Abbey Middle School and Marshlands Mid- dle School in Moorends, but le teaching in 1992 craving more creative outlets.
I also did a lot of singing in folk clubs in those days: The Leopard, Bentley Comrades Club and the Three Horse- shoes near the old North Bridge are venues I remem- ber well.
On her favourite parks
My son was born in Doncas- ter and I have great memo- ries of walking with him in Sandall Beat Woods.
It’s a fantastic place to enjoy a picnic in the summer and now I sometimes take my grandchildren there to play and enjoy the woodland. The Dell at Hexthorpe is another magical place I love and a couple of years ago I had the pleasure of singing
in the bandstand as part of a community project celebrat- ing loved ones in the spirit of the Mexican Day of the Dead.
On her passion for song
I get a thrill lead- ing choirs of Doncaster schoolchil-
dren in the
annual Big
Sings at The
Dome.
There is
also a similar
event for the
borough’s special
schools at the White Church in Balby, accom- panied by a live rock band, where I sing songs which
I have helped the children create.
There are more ways than one of being a singer-song- writer.
Music is great for fostering a spirit of community, pu ing people back in touch with
their emotions, celebrating diversity, inspiring a feeling of well-being and also ex- pressing the otherwise inex- pressible.
It can be used to sup- port learning and aid memory in children and adults alike.
Music is my passion and when I was younger I
wanted to be a famous
singer and performer in the
same way as many singers who enter com-
petitions like the X-Factor. What I’ve come to realise is
that you can use what you’ve got in so many ways and touch lives.
I may not be performing to thousands at Wembley stadi- umbutIfeelthatwhatIdoin more intimate se ings is just as ful lling, if not more so.
On the quirky choir
I started the Quirky Choir in 1997 in time for the launch of The Point the following year. It’s a community choir where we welcome anyone who wants to sing regardless of age, ability or experience. The choir is 60 strong and we have performed all over Don- caster over the years, from open mics at Cask Corner, gigs at M25 and Doncaster Conversation Club to a spe- cially composed piece about our wonderful market which we performed at the Corn Exchange and at the Mansion House.
We’ve featured on local and national radio and I am so proud of all of them.
Our latest project sees mem- bers of the choir support- ing a new group at The Point called Singing for Memory which is a chance for people with dementia and their car- ers to enjoy singing together. We’ve seen how music and singing seems to stimulate
the brain to remember fa- vourite tunes from younger days, but have also discov- ered that when we create new words to these tunes, people living with dementia can remember these words and enjoy singing them with carers between sessions.
I’ll never tire of seeing the way music can enhance lives and how it can bring people together who could other- wise become isolated.
To nd out more about the Quirky Choir, and the other activities available, visit www.thepoint.org.uk.
Take part in our feature
Would you like to take part in Favourite Things for the Doncaster Free Press?
To shout up about hidden gems and glories across Don- caster, email editorial@don- castertoday.co.uk with your contact details and why you would like to take part .
We will also need a photo- graph of you for the feature.
Favourite Things