Ann Zimmerman

What does a singer do as she watches her voice leaving town before she does? She coaxes it back as long as she can. During nine mid-November days around northwest Iowa, I packed in 36 performances - it was almost too much. Still, the fun was enormous. Orange City (IA) Arts Council brought me in for a week's residency in the two Sioux County elementary schools. At Hospers Elementary each morning, teachers granted me the luxury of an hour each with two small groups of fourth graders, plus some time with all the other grades. We sang songs of the prairie, songs of the American Revolutionary War, singing games, hand-rhythm games, and we wrote new songs. In the afternoons, Orange City Elementary kids sang those prairie songs, wrote their own new songs and played musical games. Most days, it was six gigs back-to-back. By the end of the week, with Greatest Hospers Hits day on Friday, the kids knew all the songs anyway - no need for my help! What a kick to see 35 nine- and ten-year-olds practicing their "Long-legged Sailor" in clapping and slapping pairs around the room. Thanks to Hospers staff, especially Mr. Aalbers and aide Mrs. Huisman in grade four. And thanks to Orange City Elem. staff, especially Mrs. Foughty, music teacher. Tucked in around the evenings and weekends, I sang for college students and grown-ups in Sioux City, Orange City, Cherokee, and Alton, Iowa, and in Vermillion, SD, croaking a bit, but for the most part sharing the songs just fine. Home again, a couple days of rest, and my voice came back.