By Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Country singer Jaydee Bixby toured schools in the area to promote his love of music. The 2007 Canadian Idol runner-up played to students Oct. 6 at the Mamawi Atosketan Native School and at Diamond Willow Middle School.
Bixby not only sang to students but he tried to pique their interest in music. And what better way than by using the example of the popular video game Guitar Hero.
He said if aspiring musicians spent less time on the game and more time playing guitar, they could become masters of the craft.
“Well, there’s three chords that I got taught; D, A and G,” explained Bixby as he demonstrated the ease of playing and, with the help of the students used those chords to make up a song.
Bixby showed where his talent for singing came from by inviting his mother onto the stage to sing Rock Around the Clock.
“This show is special because it’s not every day that my folks can come to my shows,” explained Bixby.
Principal Gail Wilton said posters were claimed the first day they announced Bixby’s date and students were happy to meet the singer in such a small venue. The show was made possible because a mom at the school is related to the singer and asked if the school wanted to invite him. Wilton said it was an easy decision and the students were eager to meet him.
Bixby came out to play for the kids and “to make music fun, not to trick kids, but so they want to go back and ask their parents instead of their parents saying, ‘You have to go to piano lessons for 10 years,’ and hating it after they get out of it.”
Students were wooed with his voice and he signed posters and answered questions for eager fans.