BETHANY CLANCY
Staff Writer
Music therapy, by definition, is the skillful use of music and musical elements to promote, restore and maintain physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. On Oct. 26, on the Tim Hortons stage, the Music Therapy Club held an open mic event to make people aware of what music therapy is. Students were able to sign up for slots to perform songs.
First up, the all-girl a capella group The Riveters hit the stage promptly at 7 p.m. They performed four songs. The first two were not particularly popular pop songs, but then they played “Four Five Seconds” by Rihanna, and then “Bottom of the River” by Delta Rae, a folk-rock song released in 2012.
In between each performer, the Fredonia Music Therapy Club gave facts about music therapy and what it’s all about. The first music therapy clubs were started in the 1990s, but the practice of music therapy actually started in the 1940s.
Next up was John Tocco, a sophomore music composition major. He and his guitarist covered “Creep” by Radiohead, and performed an original Clinton versus Trump rap battle, titled “I’m With Her.”
Kyle Osmond, a freshman audio/radio production major, came with his ukulele in hand. He perfomed Chris Brown’s “With You” and Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” which was recently covered by the band Twenty One Pilots.
Most performers played two songs, some only one when they went up for the first time, but once they got a feel for the night, many went up and performed another song.
A crowd favorite was Tyler Will, who played two songs, “Awkward Conversations” and “Flashlight,” by The Front Bottoms. The audience sang and bopped along. Will and his friend Jayden went up once again to perform a few originals. Lis Hansen, a freshman, said that The Front Bottoms covers were her favorite part of the open mic. Be sure to keep an eye out for the next open mic night at Tim Hortons.