Playing in a Flight: Smithers has a wonderful tradition of ‘playing in’ flights. When a visiting artist or ‘celebrity’ of any kind flies into Smithers, a bunch of the fiddlin’ kids (and adults) come to welcome them with music. The first time it really knocked me out, I was going up to teach in November, a bunch of years ago. I was coming down with a cold, and feeling a little sorry for myself, and was wondering if there would be someone there to meet me, or how I would get into town, etc, etc. I was obsessing and getting all wound up. I left the plane, and walked across the tarmac into the terminal, where 20 kids were playing Horseshoes and Rainbows. WOW! There were tears. There was joy. And now I try to be part of that when I can just to see the look on peoples’ faces when they walk through those doors. A funny aside about this… When an airport announcement comes on, all the kids play at 1/4 the volume. As soon as the announcement is finished, they ramp back up to normal volume. How many kids can say that they learned to play dynamically by responding to airport announcements? (photo credit: Brian Pickell)

about oli | music | shop online | upcoming projects | links | press kit | oliver in-depth