WritersCorps youth spoke their words last night at Intersection in the Mission, San Francisco. http://www.sfartscommission.org/WC/—–;

The Music National Service Initiative looks to teachers like Jeremy Cohen as models for the kind of creativity, innovation and true grit required to do the difficult and important work of reviving music education in our nation’s schools. With African drumming, he has found a real solution to a fundamental dilemna: how to engage and inspire students without forsaking rigor and discipline. His drumming curriculum exposes young people to the power of music and leverages that power to broaden their cultural horizons.”

Jeremy’s page and videos: http://thisworldmusic.com

I used to study West African drumming and dance under Master Drummer, Abraham Adzenyah from Ghana. He was one of my favorite teachers at Wesleyan University in CT.

http://www.wesleyan.edu/music/Adzenyah/inthere.html
http://www.bowdoin.edu/news/events/archives/002016.shtml—–;

MusicianCorps will expand access to quality music education for disadvantaged youth. But The Music National Service initiative really comes from a broader desire to promote the use of music (and youth service) to achieve many civic and social goals, not just public school education ones. El Sistema addresses poverty and youth development; Goldman Prize winner, Feliciano dos Santos, uses music to improve health and, literally, save lives in Mozambique (http://www.goldmanprize.org/2008/africa); and 2 new films — http://www.autismthemusical.com and http://www.youngatheartchorus.com demonstrate music’s positive impacts on the challenges of living with disabilities and aging.—–

Anybody catch his extensive comments about this yesterday in his address to the NAACP?

We’d love to get a link to that video clip or transcript…—–

I realize that I’m way late on this one. Just saw it last night. But how amazing (and somewhat cathartic to know) that so many people have seen a film that honestly depicts the passion and struggles of a talented, but “undiscovered,” singer songwriter.

How could an artist be so gifted, authentic, driven and raw…and still be poor, fighting for scraps and barely able to come up with enough dough to record his work (48 hrs in a studio)?

Times may be tough for everyone. But it seems like there’s a sense among arts funders that singer songwriting is more of a pop culture phenomenon than “true art.” Maaaaybe it’s a “low art” (at best). But these folks (and Rock Star wanna be’s) will be taken care of by the commercial sector. They’ll get picked up by American Idol or something. We don’t need to sorry about them.

Anyone taken a peek at the music industry lately? I wish some deep-pocketed arts funders would simply acknowledge the transformative power and wonderful craft of, yes, pop song writing…then, back that recognition with an investment that identifies and supports the best, like the major labels used to do.

Why leave all the spoils and fun to MySpace, Apple and our friends at Clear Channel? How bout an investment in artists like these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoSL_qayMCc? One that gives them an opportunity to serve for the benefit of all?

Music National Service.—–

Check out this article in NYT mag tomorrow. MNSi is happy to be studying with our friends (at Harvard’s Project Zero and CAPE) who promote the “studio habits” impact of the arts. But we also thank the friendly west coast crew that’s showing us how more music ALSO makes for better math and reading : )

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/magazine/27wwln-lede-t.html?ref=magazine—–;

Check out this letter I just received:

Congrats on PeaceLabs MusiCorps !

I am Pres of Students for Seniors Symphonies. My daughter is founder of Strings Work (going on it’s third year). Their mission is to use music (free string instrument training) as a social service tool. She goes into small urban communities (serving mostly the black community) with a her group teaching method and sets up a music conservatory-like after-school program.

Since 1998, I have been a strong advocate to rally gifted (amateur) musicians to use their talents for the sake of others. We have two multi-generational orchestras (for cancer center interaction), a jazz group in Princeton, playhouse for musicals and the outreach program.

Anyway, Carol Anne Blank NJMTA (Past Pres) thought that I should let you know that someone on the East Coast shares your interest and supports your altruistic goals.

Bill Kauffman

Right on Bill!!!! Thanks for your inspirational work and for reaching out. Let’s build a movement! kiff—–

Bill Fletcher was my high school composition and choral teacher (story in yesterday’s hometown paper): http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/ENTERTAINMENT/804240310/1043/NEWS01

Bill’s a great teacher and artist, with deep and diverse influences. He’s a natural creative who imagines possibilities and believes in his students — he elicits their best through his confidence and optimism. I love this guy.—–

Also see Ellen Winner from Harvard’s Project Zero (and Lois Hetland), “Studio Thinking”:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/09/02/art_for_our_sake/

Studio and Creative Habits seem closely related to Deliberate Practice Theory. Nutshell: http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/how-did-a-rod-get-so-good/

random, good advertising: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXIfU-87TZo—–;

Hey, we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel…just how we talk about it. “Arts for arts sake” (because it feels so important) doesn’t cut it in these tough times (of no $ for schools). “Music for reading and math sake” (cuz we know music students perform better in math and reading SATs) doesn’t tell me why we shouldn’t just do more reading and math in schools (the NCLB approach). But music and the arts to create students who perform better in school and life because they’ve learned how to imagine possibilities & take risks, how to have discipline & persist, how to work on a team & integrate feedback, how to reflect & think critically…now we’re on to something. Check out how our friends at Arts Corps in Seattle break it down beautifully in this video: http://www.artscorps.org/Gallery/video.html—–;