Letters From  Fans & Presenters

I am happy to lend my support to marimba player, Pam Paton. I have been following Pam’s career and have had the pleasure of hearing her perform at the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival and at Pier 21 in Halifax for CBC Radio’s Information Morning Birthday Party. Pam is a passionate musician with impressive technique. She is truly a master  of her instrument.
Sincerely,
Olga Milosevich
Host - CBC Radio
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Dear Pam,
Every year I enjoy taking in the show, Freezer Jam, where talented performers such as yourself volunteer their time to  raise funds for the Chester Playhouse.    One number I will always remember is the one you performed where space  between musicians and audience disappeared. You played this piece on your marimba in three parts, each one faster and  faster. You managed to get us to the point where we totally forgot ourselves and became one with the music, tapping and clapping then holding our breath until the last note.  The greatest memory for me on that night will always be  watching you hit the last note then throwing your marimba sticks in the air as you pirouetted, your bright green blouse  and red hair swirling,and with arms shyward catching the sticks on their return. Judging by your expression, those sticks  arrived back in your hands by total surprise. Your mouth opened, you threw your head back and laughed with the sound  of deafening applause in the theatre.  Many of us in that audience looked at the person next to us to share that too rare  “moment in music” which was such a treat to experience.     Thank you,  Pam for that memory. 
Sincerely yours,
Virginia Bell

I had the pleasure of hearing the Pam and her band at the Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Festival this summer. 
When I say 'hear" - I make a gross understatement. The music encompassed delightfully original and intricate celtic tunes, combined with soaring lyrical movements and ditties that drew belly laughs. What the audience heard  certainly inspired feelings  of privilege of being there 'in the beginning' -  before this Talent becomes a Canadian hit!     What we saw  was a Woman with amazing ability to draw on an extended family of  inspired performers -  to sweep the audience into a thoroughly unique musical whorl. 
J. Coldwell
Montreal, Quebec

Dear Pam 
Thank you for showing me that there is relief from sadness, fatigue and frustration. After working for thirteen hours, I can leave the hospital, drive to your little house and play drums. I can pound out my feelings without fear of criticism or ridicule. When it’s time to leave, I’m no less tired, but feel positive, relaxed and happy to have the “bounce” back in my step. Your initial instruction, then guidance through so many interwoven rhythms is uplifting and soothing to the spirit. You assess your drummers and give everyone a beat that suits their level of competence. You stimulate us to progress,  yet allow us to be in a comfortable, confident  place.
I also want you to know how very much I have enjoyed your performances on stage.  Whether it’s playing drumset, hand drums or the marimba, as a soloist or as a member of a group,  you have always “stood out” as an incredible talent. You “understand” your instruments and are intuitive and able to read your fellow musicians.  Even when you “sit in” the audience feels you are part of the unit - it seems like you’ve been to every rehearsal and they never guess that you were just invited up to play.  Your power and energy in front of an audience is mesmerizing .....  I remember a performance at the Chester Playhouse when all the young people seated on the floor in front of the stage,rose as one,  after your final note. They clapped, screamed and whistled as your mallets flew in the air and somehow found their way back to your hands. It was as though the audience had pumped their energy into you  and you fired it back tenfold !  With joyful and heartfelt anticipation, I look forward to your drum circles and performances.   Thank you.
Diane Ray Lunenburg, NS
 

Pam's music and her songs speak to the soul. They are moving, meaningful, lyrical and contain a rhythm that resonates through you. I have had the privilege of hearing Pam play  at the Women's Voices Festival. Her music allows me the freedom to go places that I have not had the chance to visit in a long time. Her music is the voice of women.
Judy Marlin    President,   Women's Voices Festival  

Dear Pamela,
It was good to see you again, back in town after your travels. I was sorry you cannot stay long enough to consider a concert date for the Playhouse.   I have fond memories of the excellent concert you performed at the Chester Playhouse on the release of your CD “Dancing with the Ancestors”. The Celtic marimba sound you have developed was quite a revelation - and that of course is just part of your wide range of skills. I am pleased that, throughout your musical career, you have made time to find your own voice through your original lyrics and melodies. I hope you will continue to write and perform wherever this next step takes you.   All the best!
Sincerely,
Christopher Heide
Managing Director,   Chester Playhouse
 

Pam Paton brings a strength of musicianship and presence to the stage, that engages and empowers her listeners to feel part of the potent energy that surrounds her. Pam loses herself in her music, which allows it to flow, circulate and live in a different mode during each performance. She is sensitive to her audience and responds accordingly. I highly recommend this percussionist, musician, songwriter, woman, to music lovers everywhere.
Sincerely,
Beth Crosby
Wolfville, Nova Scotia
 

As business members of the community of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia we can only express appreaciation for the work of
Pamela.  She has been persistant in her efforts to rouse music in our area, a calling of tremendous value. We are a growing artists’ community and are certain her efforts have contributed towards making it a better place to live year by year.  She has particularly contributed by playing at public gatherings & fundraisers, sometimes for free, through teaching and by providing the service of high quality, imaginative musical performance for special events. We wish her the very best of luck in the further persuit of her career.
Yours truly,
Laurie Fisher Huck / Chris Huck
Proprietors, Huck Fisher Metalworkers
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
 

Pam  kindly donated her talents and time to the South Shore Waldorf School for our first annual Wild Blossom Festival.   Pam performance was terrific. She brought a sense of humour and playfulness to the stage  as well as her stellar musical ability. Her audience interactions were recieved enthusiastically.  We thank her for her generosity  and recommend her highly for whatever musical ventures she undertakes.
Sincerely,
Allison M. Rew
Wild Blossom Festival Coordinator
 

I recently held a two day workshop for women and invited Pam Paton to be the hand drum facilitator. There were fifteen participants with varied drumming experience.The weekend was a great success, largely due to xecellent tuition in rhythm, tuning and jamming (to name a few activities) that people recieved from Pam. She was comfortable and sensitive to the needs of the group and made it lots of fun.  I would recommend Pam as a facilitator and certainly hope to invite her back next year for another event.
Joyce Kingsford
Director, Sappho’s Choice Retreat
Pictou County, Nova Scotia
 

I have been playing with Pam Paton for the past three years in drum circles and accompanying her band with my  didgeridoo. Her energy leading drum circles is infectious and her positive encouragement brings out everyone’s  best potential whether they are a novice or experienced drummer. Not only are her drum circles always wonderful learning experiences but more importantly, the are great fun.  Because it is so easy to transcend all your troubles when playing with Pam, her drum circles are eagerly anticipated and reluctantly ended. To say Pam is an amazing percussionist would be an understatment as it represents only a small portion of her talent. With her dynamic marimba stylings, lively guitar and spirited vocals she combines Pop, Latin and Celtic influences to create her own unique world music. All that, combined with her attention to detail, is sure to guarantee a mesmerizing performance whenever she sets foot on the stage.  I am deeply grateful for Pam’s encouragement, trust and invitations to accompany her music with my didgeridoo. She was the catalyst to bring out my passion for this instrument and share with others.
Paul Newton
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
 

For years our son was reluctant to pursue music, after an insensitive music teacher in grade one humiliated him 
in class. At the beginning of his grade seven year he was given an Irish bodhran and having just moved to Lunenburg we managed, after much persuasion, to get him to try “just one music lesson”. After that first session with Pam, he eagerly took weekly lessons, never missed a class and became enthused with rhythm and drumming.  Pam established a creative rapport with him which dispelled his previous negativity and enabled him to improve in leaps and bounds. The following year Pam taught him the djembe drum and introduced him to the experience of drumming circles which further boosted his confidence and improved his latent musically ability. Forever, we will be grateful for Pam’s musical influence on our teenage son. She is a talented energetic hand drum facilitator and performer, and as a teacher she is inspirational.
Yours Sincerely,
S. Sizer & Martin Brennan
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
 

Pam was introduced to us in the summer of 1998 by Eva Moore, the former director of the Nova Scotia Drama League. At that occasion Ms. Paton performed in the show “Herrin’ and Potatoes” at the Starlight Theatre in Linenburg under Ms. Moore’s direction.  Already then, Pam impressed us with her tremendous sense of rhythm and her dedicated engagement in the show.    Later, in the fall of 1998, she performed again at our theatre in a concert which focused on her virtuosity with her percussion instruments. Once again we were impressed by her musical talent and feeling for rhythm.    Pam Paton appears “Rhythm Personified”    and any concert with her participation will be worth attending!
Ines Torelli & Edi Baur
Directors/Owners of the Starlight Theatre
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
 

I have known pam and her work for over five years. I’ve really enjoyed her music, having hear her with groups and also as a solo artist. Her energy and involvement in music is very exciting to watch!    I’ve also hired Pam as a drum instructor teaching a group of teachers keen to use the arts in their curriculum. They were so confident in their abilities to hear rhythm after the workshop. Pam has also led the drumming for dance workshops that I have participated in. These workshops have been very popular, in part, due to Pam’s spontaneous response to the work in front of her.I would eagerly go to any concert Pam was involved in and hire her again for workshops. I recommend her highly for her professionalism, commitment to music and her warmth and humour.
Jocelyn Cunningham
Actor / Director / Educator
Lunenburg Co, Nova Scotia