The 2025/26 school year is almost upon us. Before stepping all the way in to challenging roles as learners, teachers, and supporters I recommend setting aside time to reflect on a “personal code of character.”

As we enter our variety of situations and brand new interactions, It will help to have the words and melody of a character song-dancing around in our heads-to remind ourselves who we want to be when faced with other humans and their challenges, talents, issues, desires, flaws and needs.

If you are in Spokane, you are invited to join AROUND THE PIANO (ATP)at AM Cannon Park 9/6/25. We will be participating in FINDING HUMAN PROJECT’S

https://www.findinghumanproject.org/ ONCE UPON A PARK, a magical opportunity to create, play and share in a community story in which your character is the hero of the day.

ATP will be joining FINDING HUMAN PROJECT (FHP) for an amazing, family friendly activity🎶 You are invited!

What do you hope to bring to the rooms you enter?

I’ll bring the microphone and some favorite, community friendly songs! You bring your voice and your sense if humor🎶🎶

A great time to reset your personal code of character…What makes you a “good person” in challenging situations? What songs will help you stay the course?

One of the kindest gifts I have been given in my life is the gift of acceptance. Not “acceptance” as in, “I am one of you now, and so we must agree on the big issues of our time.” The gift is “acceptance” as in, “Wow!I think you are totally wrong about this. I think you have the facts wrong, and the wrong perspective, but I accept that you believe you are right about all of it, and I will treat you as if you might still be a good person-even if each of us standing up for what we believe in means we are facing off.” The gift is accepting my humanity and my decency even if we can’t both have what we want. Having a Personal Code of Character (PCC)doesn’t mean you are right. It means, you will conduct yourself in a way that lets you feel right and walk through life with a clear conscience. Having a P.C.C. does not obligate you to act as conscience for others nor does acceptance have to mean surrender🎶🎵

ATP is a wonderful resource for students of all ages before and after school, but did you know that CHARACTER BUILDING THROUGH MUSIC is super versatile? It is the gift that keeps on giving?

🎶You can host an AROUND THE PIANO team-building workshop for your staff, administration, families and communities.

🎵You can work with Frankie Ghee as a Teaching Artist embedded with a classroom (Daily or weekly sessions for 1-8 weeks). ATP works great at the secondary level in Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Leadership, Music, Visual Art and Theater classrooms. Elementary classrooms are another excellent fit for a Teaching Artist in Residence.

🎶You can host an AROUND THE PIANO assembly or convocation for your whole school or place if business.

🎶Routine experiences with music and character building can make a huge impact on work and/or classroom climate🎶

Please feel free to inquire via comment, or use the form on the “contact us”page.

I look forward to hearing your ideas about how ATP can add music and character building to your space🖤💜🖤

Frankie

Greetings! I hope this finds you well.

I invite you to take a moment to draft or update your personal code of character.

Are you considerate, kind, patient, present, peaceful, joyful, forgiving, easy going, grateful, respectful, trustworthy, open minded or something else? Feel free to share your current personal code of character as a comment if you like or reach out to me on the ATP Facebook page. And yes, your code of character will change. I am including my very wordy, current code of character as an example. I will also include a much shorter version that gets me to the same place.

Frankie Ghee: My personal code of character goes like this, “Because I want the world to be more peaceful, I will try to be patient with others. I will try to accept the present moment. I will try to be open minded and joyful.”

Frankie Ghee: I will seek and share joy.

Once you have a working personal code of character, you can use it to help you get through challenges in your day. If your code of character includes being kind, ask yourself what a kind person would do in the situation.

I often ask myself, “How will my reaction bring joy to me and to others?” That simple question has gotten me to keep my mouth shut when I might have otherwise said something unnecessarily snippy or cold. It has motivated me to acts of kindness and sparked my creativity. Seeking joy has led me to being more forgiving to myself, and it has inspired gratitude for both the mundane and the amazing. My days are better when I approach them with my quest for joy in mind.

Has your code of character improved your day?

I hope you are having the best summer ever. If you are gearing up for the new school year, I hope your code of character helps you have a wonderful start!

Frankie

What is your blossom song?

You might:

Find a song you have in common with a friend

Teach a song

Write a song together

Group singing is warming

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😎

FRIDAY, JUNE 2 4:00PM-6:15PM

Frankie will be in the park (AM) next to the Community Center. Come on by and share your favorite song with her. If you like, Frankie will give you some tips on how to improve your stage presence and your sound. Frankie will sing a few songs. Everyone will have a chance to perform and to be an audience for someone else! All ages are welcome. This is a free event!

https://youtube.com/@aroundthepiano-characterbu2215