AROUND THE PIANO/ Character building through music

IT IS BASED ON THE ENDURING UNDERSTANDING OR VERY BIG IDEA THAT ANY TIME ANY OF US HUMANS ARE EXPOSED TO OR ENGAGES IN MUSIC (ESPECIALLY GROUP SINIGNG) WE ARE BETTER FOR IT. I BELIEVE THAT WHETHER WE KNOW IT OR NOT, WHEN WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO BECOME EMERSED IN A MUSICAL EXPERIENCE, THAT BENEFIT GETS EVEN MORE PROFOUND.

2. AROUND THE PIANO IS ALSO BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES WITH GROUP SINGING AND ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES. IF WE ALL GATHER AROUND THE PIANO AND SING ANYTHING, WE WILL BE BETTER AS INDIVIDUALS BUT ALSO AS A GROUP. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF WE SOUND GOOD, OR GET THE WORDS RIGHT OR EVEN IF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US PARTICIPATES AT THE SAME LEVEL. WE ARE DOING A GROUP THING, AND OUR GROUP WILL BE BETTER.

WHY IS MUSIC/SINGING SO POWERFUL?

1. IT IS A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THAT ENGAGES THE WHOLE BODY INCLUDING THE HEART AND OUR BREATHING MECHANISM

2. IT IS EMOTIONAL-MUSIC STIRS US TO FEELINGS AND PASSION AND INSPIRES US TO ACTION

3. IT IS AN EXCELLENT TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION ACROSS LANGUAGES AND CULTURES EVEN WHEN WORDS DON’T WORK

4. MUSIC (EXPECIALLY GROUP ENGAGEMENT) BUILDS COMMUNITY. WHEN WE MAKE MUSIC TOGETHER, WE CONNECT IF EVEN JUST FOR A BIT.

Today’s KPBX Kids Concert was so much fun. Special thanks to Stephanie and Savanna for their amazing hard work and kindness. Thank you to the Volunteers and other Staff at KPBX. It was an honor to be involved with all of you! Thanks also to the folks at SFCC for the lovely auditorium and the help of Eli with sound and set up!

I made a short I movie for those who attended and want to remember how the songs go. ***The audio on most of the songs (only WHAT I ASK OF MYSELF IS LIVE) is from the songbook, not from this concert. Next time I will try to record more of the live performance. If you missed it, stay tuned for the next ATP event near you😎