Animals Love Music, too!

Everyone loves a good animal video. Play one and even the most serious of people will crack a smile. I compiled a few music related animal videos that will entertain! Enjoy!
(Please note: if you are a blog subscriber, you may need to click through to the blog to watch the videos).

Dancing Elephants

Violinist Eleanor Bartsch: "Me warming up for my performance of the Bach Concerto for Two Violins with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI. I decided to go outside and play a bit for Kelly and Viola, 44 and 45 year-old elephants that have lived together for most of their lives. I found out that elephants REALLY like Bach..."

Koko Plays the Keyboard

Koko Flix:

"Koko likes to experiment with many forms of art and technology...Here Koko tries out a new, flexible, electronic keyboard, and improvises a little tune (music and rhythm) while Penny records it. When Penny plays back the tune, Koko seems to like what she hears, signing "Koko love."
Like sign language, music can be another dimension of interspecies communication. It's another window into the mind, heart and soul of another being, and lets us share something that's universal — joy."

Animal's Playing Instruments, Compilation

Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is about a Bay Area Clarinet group that amazes!

Heather (iCA President)

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Using Music to Change Millions of Lives

"Music produces an irreversible transformation in a child. This doesn't mean he'll end up as a professional musician. He may become a doctor, or study law, or teach literature. What music gives him remains indelibly part of who he is forever." 

- Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu

In 1975 Venezuelan economist Jose Antonio Abreu had a brilliant idea: to create a youth orchestra in a poverty-stricken area within Venezuela. 

Over the past 39 years, Dr. Abreu has seen his idea become an extremely successful reality. Beginning with children preschool age, his program, El Sistema, teaches its students about moving, music & instruments; eventually turning many into orchestra players who travel the world.

El Sistema begins taking students around age 2 or 3, teaching them about music and music theory. By age 4, their students have started on an instrument, and by 6 they are in orchestras. Working several hours a day, 6 days a week, the program gives its students room for only studies and music. This creates a violence free route that most in their areas are not as fortunate to have as an option.

El Sistema has not only changed the lives for close to a million Venezulenas (800,000 students as of 2008), they also now have programs across the United States and other parts of the world. They have also inspired city's to create youth orchestras, including the Los Angeles' Philharmonic Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA).

I highly recommend visiting this link

(http://www.cbsnews.com/news/el-sistema-changing-lives-through-music/)

and watching the 60 Minutes special on El Sistema. It will change the way you look at the possibilities music within children's lives, and what it can do to change the future for children everywhere. 

Image from The Guardian

Students with conductor Gustavo Dudamel (left) and Dr. Aberu (right)

Caracas, Venezuela

Resources:
http://www.kidznotes.org/the-program/el-sistema/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/el-sistema-changing-lives-through-music/
http://www.laphil.com/education/yola
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jun/14/abreu-el-sistema-venezuela-interview-clemency-burton-hill

Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is about animals who are feeling the music!

Heather (iCA President)

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Group Brings COMEDY to Classical Music

Four classically trained musicians are using their musical training in a very unique way. The men of "MozART Group" have created a unique cabaret that has taken he world by storm.

The group takes classical compositions and breaks them down, analyzing and adding to them, finding a humor one wouldn't have thought possible. They began playing together in 1995, and have only grown since then. With 5 released DVD's between 2008 and 2012, MozART has attained a following around the world. Their second worldwide tour began in January 2014 (they will be in the US in September. Check here to see if they're coming to your city). The group has also performed with other famous musicians, such as Bobby McFerrin.

MozART Group and Bobby McFerrin

MoZART Group at Arosa Humorfestival 2013

If you watched the videos above, you know that these guys are hilarious and extremely talented. If they come to a city near me I'll certainly be checking them out!

Resource: http://www.mozartgroup.net

Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is about an organization changing the world for kids in Venezuela, and now the US.

Heather (iCA President)

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Bridging Cultures Using Music

It's hard to imagine what it's like to live in a different place unless you've experienced their culture. This feels especially impossible when you may live thousands of miles away. The organization ThisWorldMusic wanted to give students the opportunity to learn about different cultures. With programs in both the US and abroad, the organization's mission is "To create cultural bridges between people and communities worldwide through a shared love of music and the arts." Using drum, dance, singing, and other forms of art, ThisWorldMusic immerses students into a culture unlike their own.

Founded in 2007 by Jeremy Cohen: percussionist, composer, and UMass Adjunct Facility Member; the organization pulls from Mr. Cohen's history as a music director in its workshops. ThisWorldMusic offers four programs: on-campus Undergraduate and Graduate programs in Africa, K-12 Workshops and Residencies, Professional Development courses (also in Africa); and the study abroad program in Ghana.

http://thisworldmusic.com/organization-overview/

The organization's most well known program is the three week "study abroad" in Ghana. Two weeks are spent at the Dagbe Cultural Cultural Institute & Arts Centre, while the third is spent in some of Ghana's most beautiful and interesting locations. Open to the public, the program won the Top Short-Term Program Award from Abroad101 and STA Travel. The program teachers its students about the local instruments, philosophies, cuisine, dances, and even has them tour a local master drum maker's workshop. Many of the written reviews and interviews in the program's video indicate a strong presence of teachers within the participants. They discuss what they've learned and their excitement to take their new perspective and information back to their students.

The organization also partners with US organizations and schools to offer educational workshops within the US.

We love the idea of bridging multiple cultures as ThisWorldMusic is doing. Only the universal language of music could bring those from all walks of life together to learn about one another. For more information about all of their programs, visit http://thisworldmusic.com. And for information about the Ghana trip, (if you haven't already from the link above) make sure to watch their video, which really gives you a feel of what ThisWorldMusic does.

Resource: thisworldmusic.com

Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is about a unique group making unique music.


Heather (iCA President)

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History is Made on Broadway

History has been made in an exciting way on Broadway. For the first time, Broadway has four shows with African American men as music directors and conductors.

From Left: Waters, Mark, Joubert and Becton

Daryl Waters, music supervisor and conductor, "After Midnight"

Zane Mark, music director and conductor , "Holler If Ya Hear Me"

Joseph Joubert, music director and conductor, "Mowtown the Musical"

Shelton Becton, conductor, pianist, and performer, "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill"

In an industry that is historically and still predominately Caucasian, these four men are part of an important step in moving Broadway in the right direction. With extremely impressive musical backgrounds, these men have worked hard for years to get where they are today.

Both Joubert and Becton mention their predecessors within the industry. Becton notes: "We are the offspring of such trailblazers as Joyce Brown, Linda Twine, Harold Wheeler, Luther Henderson, and more. Hopefully it means that there is a greater acceptance of individual qualifications and less consideration of skin hues." We agree, and hope that everyone has an equal opportunity to follow their dreams. We are glad to see news like this, that will continue to open the doors for musicians of color.

"Let's hope this positive trend keeps up!"

-Joseph Joubert

Resource:
http://t.amsterdamnews.com/news/2014/jun/26/african-american-conductors-make-history-broadway/#.U64hBtqkkN0.twitter
http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/07/20/black-conductors-make-history-on-broadway/


Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is about an organization who is bringing cultures together using art and music.


Heather (iCA President)

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One Unexpected Reason Why the Arts are Crucial to Education

Image From Article Below

The benefits of music, art, and sports on children's lives are endless. But that doesn't stop these important subjects from being cut from our schools. In this ongoing debate, a new reason to keep them around has emerged.

Attendance.

After cutting many of these programs, the Milwaukee school system kept on a few teachers for special programs. They noticed that on the days these teachers would visit each school, the attendance would rise. Since public schools get funding based on actual attendance of students, this was definitely something to notice. They also noted that it kept some students from transferring to schools that still offered these programs. Overall morale increased when these programs were kept around. 

Another important area where they saw improvement was in parent participation. When music, arts, and sports were cut, those common after school trips parents would make to hear concerts, watch games, and other activities, left with them. With the parents not involved, the community suffers.

There are many reasons why these programs are important in school. Without the outlet that music, arts, and sports offer to kids, many will suffer. If attendance; simply encouraging a child to attend school, is an added benefit, then lets add it to the list of reasons we need to continue the push to keep these subjects in school.

Resource:

http://www.care2.com/causes/arts-education-is-making-a-comeback-but-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think.html

Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is about how African American conductors are making history on Broadway.


Heather (iCA President)

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New Instruments from Old Homes

Detroit has been going through some rough times. At a time when many of its buildings are being torn down, a nonprofit called Reclaim Detroit is deconstructing vacant structures, and reselling the contents. From the floors to the doors, they are recycling these beautiful original materials.

Recently, a man named Gary Zimnicki heard about Reclaim Detroit, and he became inspired. Zimnicki has been hand-making guitars and ukulele's since he was a teenager. With the original inspiration to be a rockstar, Zimnicki ended up an amazing craftsman of instruments, whose guitars and ukelele's are played by some of the best.

Zimnicki recently teamed with Reclaim Detroit, and the outcome has been amazing. Taking materials from a house originally built in 1910, just two blocks from the Motown studios, Zimnicki is using floorboards and ceiling joists for his instruments. After cleaning, sanding, and cutting the wood, Zimnicki has beautiful materials to reuse. As he describes, the wood is "old and well seasoned" and pays tribute to the craftsman that built the houses, over 100 years ago.

"I like to say that I'm building instruments not made in Detroit, but made of Detroit." - Gary Zimnicki

With his final touch being a small mother of pearl image of the home from which the materials come, Zimnicki's instruments have produced a sound so beautiful it's stunning the professionals.

Watch the amazing video to see Zimnicki's work with Reclaim Detroit, 

and hear one of the instruments being played by a professional.

Resource:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/detroits-vacant-homes-make-music/

Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is an interesting take on why music education is so important to have in schools.


Heather (iCA President)

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