Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I have a suggestion for Getting on My Nerves and his wife. She can sing and mimic all kinds of sounds (from car sounds to embarrassing body noises) and it is getting to him.
There is a wonderful choir in the city called Margaret’s Choir. It’s an all-inclusive group; everyone is welcome. There are no auditions and you don’t even need to be able to read music.
Maybe she can direct her musical talents into learning all kinds of beautiful songs. Instead of spouting “musical percussion,” she could be singing or humming all the great songs she learns at the choir.
The other wonderful thing about the choir is they put on two performances a year in support of a local charity. Check it out at margaretschoir.ca. — Dedicated Member of the Choir, Winnipeg
Dear Dedicated Member: Thanks for your tip. This singing and mimicking wife has tons of energy around music and has nowhere to put it. She reminds me of the “difficult” kids in schools where I used to teach who would excel once a teacher could figure out what it was that kid wanted to do, but couldn’t name.
I checked out this very choir a few years ago and found it non-judgmental and fun. More than 100 people were there from different religions (or no religion) on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. in a local church. Their online ad now reads: “Love to sing, but think you can’t? Margaret’s Choir could be for you.” It could be the answer for this man’s antsy wife with the musical bent.