Summerside hummers abuzz over their kazoo choir

A childhood toy is bringing together someIslanders who want to have a little fun while they make music and they're looking for new recruits.

"It was just an idea to bring community members together and to do something silly and fun," said leaderPeggy Miles, who started the kazoo choir in the fall of 2023.

The group of six meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at the Lefurgey Cultural Centre in Summerside.

Not being able to read music is not an obstacle to learning this instrument, said Miles.

"It's not too hard. Sometimes people think you have to blow in the kazoo, but you actually have to hum in the kazoo. So that's usually the first hurdle It's pretty easy to get over that and then it's smooth sailing from there," Miles said.

She had trouble keeping a straight face during the first lesson/rehearsal, and knew that people who would eventually watch the group perform wouldalso get a good laugh in.

It's a silly thing and we know it. Peggy Miles

"It's a silly thing and we know it," she said.

Membership is open to everyone. The initial cost is $5, which includes a freekazoo. Then members pay $2 every meeting for photocopies and help cover some travel expenses. If cost is a barrier, Miles saidshe can work something out with the person.

Shannon Stewart had never played a kazoo before joining the choir in September. She wanted to take acrylic painting lessons throughone of the Island's community school programs, but then saw they were offering kazoo lessons. Shethought it would be cool to say she couldplay.

"I was just really interested to know if you could actually learn anything about it," she said.

Each lesson starts with breathing exercises, stretching and plenty of laughs.

"It's just really funny and silly to me. I'm notmusically inclined, so it's a lot of fun," said Stewart.

Lori MacLeanjust wanted to get out of the house. She said after her husband died, someone suggested the class might be fun to try.

"It actually turned into something of a good therapy," she said. "We laugh so much to where we have to not look at each other sometimes because we start giggling. So it is a really fun time."