Month: April 2008

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 … [Read more…]

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, … [Read more…]

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 … [Read more…]

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 : … [Read more…]

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 … [Read more…]

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 … [Read more…]