Close Harmony

Introduction

A group of fourth and fifth graders form an intergenerational chorus with a group of older adults. Brought together by a dynamic music teacher, Arlene Symons, and motivated by their abilities, interest, and enthusiasm for music, these children and their older counterparts gain a significant understanding of what all relationships entail--time spent nurturing their bonds, a commitment to a common undertaking, an appreciation of the risks inherent in new relationships, an understanding of the value of friendships, and an acceptance of the painful losses that can occur through when one becomes attached to another person's life.

The structure of the film complements the story being told. Although the film is nonfiction, it employs many conventions of fictional stories: it incorporates a p lot, suspense, and a climax. When viewers understand the nature of Arlene Symons’ experiment, they are able to ask a fundamental question: Will her intergenerational chorus succeed? We follow the progress of her direction of both groups through the film. As the rehearsals continue, the film’s structure unfolds: the quality of the music, Arlene Symons’ direction and leadership, the strenuous rehearsals, the commitment of the members of the choirs, the friendships that begin to develop between young and old, the respect that is fostered by their interaction, and finally their climactic performance at the end of the film. Along the way, moments of suspense are resolved, and the action leads to small and large accomplishments and satisfying relationships. The song sung at the first rehearsal of both choirs, "The Rainbow Connection," is the appropriate song to symbolize the unity of these two groups; they are connected, even bonded, in a way that would not have been possible except for the direction of Arlene Symons and the universality of the music both groups generated.

Summary of Scenes

1. Fourth and fifth grade children, all members of a choir, rehearse a song. Their music teacher, Arlene Symons, exhorts them with great enthusiasm. The scene changes to a senior citizens' center, where Ms. Symons is rehearsing a choir of older adults. She is equally zealous with this group, shouting her commands: "Give me the whole thing! I need that, so I won't be frustrated at the end!"
2. Arlene Symons recalls how the idea of an "intergenerational chorus" came to her. She directed several adult choirs, but at performances she never saw children or young adults. "It struck me then how isolated our senior citizens are despite all their wonderful programs." She explains that the two choirs rehearse in separate locations for three months. Then they combine their efforts in the intergenerational choir. When the children began to ask questions about the older adults in the other choir, one of their teachers suggested they write letters to the older adults.
3. The children are shown writing letters to the older adults. Several children share their experiences with older people and their attitudes toward the old. One boy says that his mother told him some older people "don't like children at all, so at first I didn't want to write to a pen pal." Another child says, "If we give them respect, they should give us back respect."
4. Arlene Symons hands out letters from the students to the older adults at their rehearsal site. The men and women in the choir are eager to read the letters from their "pen pals." At the children’s school, one of their teachers distributes letters from the older adults to the children. Editing shows scenes of both groups reacting to letters they have received. Several of the children share their definition of what "old" is. One young person says, "You could be a very young person when you're 80, and old when you're 40." Others associate old age with physically slowing down, with sickness, with being in a wheelchair, with the end of life.
5. The older adult choir rehearses. As the singing continues, we see some of the choir members shopping and completing errands. One of the women from the choir says, "To us, age doesn't mean anything. As long as you want to go out, as long as you see things beautiful, you're young. You could be young at 80, or old at 25." The adult chorus rehearses another song; then one of the men from the chorus says, "Age is just as old as you want it to be." One of the women says, "I enjoy being a part of the chorus. I want to do the best I can.”
6. One of the children explains that he has changed his opinion of older people after writing to his pen pal. A nother child shares her feelings by saying, "I used to think when they were young they didn't have as much fun as I do." Now she realizes, "Maybe I'll still have fun when I am old." Two other children admit that their pen pals have died recently. They express their sadness at this loss. One girl, excited about meeting her pen pal, says, "I feel as though I love her already."
7. The big day arrives: the first joint rehearsal of the two choirs and the first time the children will meet the older adults. When the children enter, pen pals "find" each other. Hugs and kisses abound. Later, young and old are seated close to each other around small tables; they are eating lunch and sharing experiences and feelings. We hear one of the songs the joint choirs rehearsed that day. The combination of music and image emphasizes the genuine warmth of the intergenerational relationships.
8. Arlene Symons shares the difficulties she faced in trying to coordinate the two groups; and she admits, "No matter how much I rehearse and how long I work on this production, I'm terrified." The day of the concert arrives. Some of the older adults share their excitement. One woman says, "I feel very excited, very exhilarated. I feel like I 'm a star!" The audience waits in the auditorium. The members of the two choirs come down the center aisle, one older adult at a time walking arm-in-arm with one or two children. All are dressed in formal attire. On stage the two choirs begin to sing. Their voices harmonize beautifully as their first song begins: "The sweetest sound I'll ever hear is still inside my head...." The film ends as the opening number continues.

Discussion Questions and Sample Worksheet

Text of The Great Circle of Life: A Resource Guide to Films and Videos on Aging, copyright © 1987, 1999, 2005, Robert E. Yahnke. All photographs copyrighted by Robert E. Yahnke.  All rights reserved.  Contact author for permission to copy photographs or reprint portions of text.

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