By Brent E. Frazier, Mayor
City of Pelican Rapids 

Deck the halls with boughs of holly…

Do you hear the music?

Music is the art of producing a pleasing and expressive combination of tunes with melody, rhythm, and harmony, and it is a fact that we all have musical talents, if we know it or not.

Yes, we all have some musical talents. Some maybe more accomplished than others, but we all have some degree of musical talent.

Singing becomes an expression and interaction that binds cultures, genders, social groups, economic groups, educational levels, and everyone of different musical abilities. 

One of the worst statements that can be told to a child is, “you can’t sing.”

When telling such a negative statement to a child, the child may then believe that they will never be good enough to join with their peers in song. It can thus become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The child suddenly begins to believe that he/she is ‘not good enough.’

Such a statement to a child can have life-long intimidations of which they may never again want to participate in the art of music.

We may remember the first elementary or church musical program that we sang at when we were a child. Some children were shy, some were confident, some were good singers, and some just needed a little more practice.

We then all realized as the years went by that with more vocal musical programs, we all got much better. The key element was practice, practice, and more practice.

We are fast approaching the Christmas/Holiday Season of 2022, when the sounds of music will change for a few weeks. The music will coincide with the seasonal calendar and Advent calendar (which begins on November 27 and ends on December 24, 2022).

Gone are many of the everyday songs on our radios which will now be replaced by secular or religious songs of the season.

Many of these are songs that we learned as a child, and we continue to sing them as adults. We have aged over the years, but the music will never age.

These are songs that we sing along with on our vehicle radios, our home sound system, and the shopping mall walkways.

Songs that tell about; a snowman, tinsel, an evergreen tree, sleigh bells, a fireplace, warm clothing, figgy pudding, mistletoe, shopping, presents, milk & cookies, reindeer, three kings, shepherds, wise men, a star, a baby boy and a silent night.

The list of words goes on and on, whereas we can sometimes name a song by just hearing a single word.

As we gather at our places of worship, city plazas, community centers, schools, and theaters, we will hear the beautiful music sung by the youth and elderly alike. 

These are people of different singing abilities and talents, but all who are singing from their hearts. They are proclaiming a joyful noise with those of whom they have gathered. 

Yes, we all can lift our voice in song. We can proclaim a joyful sound with our heart by then channeling it through our vocal cords and mouth.

Please join us on Friday, November 25 at 5:30 pm at the intersection of Highway #59 and Highway #108 West to be a part of a community chorus to sing a few seasonal selections before we watch the Horse Drawn Lighted Christmas Parade.

Please dress warm, wear a smile on your face and make a joyful sound with your family, friends, and visitors.

Yes, we all can sing, and we are awaiting to hear you.

Fa la la la la, la la la la.