Sphinx: "Transforming Lives Through the Power of Diversity in the Arts"

In 1997 Dr. Aaron P. Dworkin founded The Sphinx Organization. The Detroit based organization is "Transforming Lives Through the Power of Diversity in the Arts." Dr. Dworkin was consistently the only minority in his field, and it inspired him to change the landscape of classical music, giving minority children a chance to be a part of the classical music world. With an impressive list of supporters and an honorary board that includes Yo-Yo Ma, the organization has grown a tremendous amount over the past 17 years, and they have the statistics to show it.

"Talent does not pick demographics." -Yo-Yo Ma

The organization has several segments that work together in making Dr. Dworkin's dream continue to develop as a movement. From a tuition free summer camp for minority children, to a prestigious competition that harbors the best talent, to the creation of the first and only professional black and latino orchestra in the world, Sphinx is making amazing strides, both nationally and globally.

Photo: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/may/10/rps-international-honorary-membership-aaron-p-dworkin-sphinx-organization

"In our first 15 years, we have been able to literally transform the lives of tens of thousands. And now, Sphinx Con is bring together global leaders from across the performing arts sector and beyond as we empower ideas for diversity in the arts. But there is tremendous work that still needs to be done." -Dr Aaron Dworkin

Here are some of Sphinx's impressive statistics:

• In 1997, 1.5% of orchestra members were Black or Latino. Today, it's more than doubled (over 4%)
• Sphinx founder Dr. Aaron Dworkin is a former member of the Obama National Arts Policy Committee, and was President Obama's first appointment to the National Council on the Arts (from Dr. Dworkin's personal website)
• From 1998 to 2008 America's Top Orchestra's had an increase of 1.24% of Black members. All orchestras with an increase had a relationship with Sphinx
• Over 100 worldwide artistic partners
• Over $200,000 in instruments
• Over 65,000 students reached in 175 schools nationwide
• Over 200 orchestra performances for over 200,000 audience members
• Over 2 million in broadcast audiences reached nationally
• More than 130 alumni in 15 competitions
• 9 commissioned works
• 2 touring ensembles (The Catalyst Quartet, Sphinx Virtuosi)
• $2 million in scholarship awards
• Sphinx Alumni graduated to every top 10 music school

What Sphinx has accomplished in just 17 years is a testament to how far we can go in the next 17 years. I applaud them for all that they've done, and am excited to follow their progress into the future.

"I'm just in awe of what Sphinx has accomplished, but even more excited about its future." 
-Yo-Yo Ma

Watch the Sphinx Story Video here:
http://www.sphinxmusic.org/the-sphinx-story.html

To learn more about this organization (or donate to their cause), visit their website at http://www.sphinxmusic.org/.
(Unless otherwise noted, all above information is from the Sphinx Organization website.)




Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is about choosing instruments for children.


Heather (iCA President)
www.InstrumentCareApparel.com

April is Jazz Appreciation Month

Leading up to April 30ths International Jazz Day, the United States celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month for the whole month of April.

This year is particularly special because it marks the 50 year anniversary of John Coltrane's composition "A Love Supreme." The Smithsonian's Natural Museum of American History, among many others, are celebrating this special year with several resources and encouraging musicians nationwide to support Jazz!

In support of this exciting month, watch the video of John Coltrane in one of the only performances (and the only one found recorded) of him performing "A Love Supreme."

We also encourage you to take it upon yourself to Celebrate Jazz. Go with friends and family, maybe take someone who has not been exposed to Jazz - use these links to find exciting Jazz events in your area:

http://www.jazznearyou.com
http://jazzday.com/?event-country=united-states&event-year=2014
http://americanjazzmuseum.org/event/jazz-appreciation-month-jam-2014/



Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is about a special organization that's changing the future for some special young musicians.


Heather (iCA President)
www.InstrumentCareApparel.com

How the Brain Benefits from Early Music Training

I came across an article entitled, "Even A Few Years of Music Training Benefits the Brain." Naturally, it caught my attention.

The article discusses the benefits of music education received at a young age, the impact that it has on you as a child, and the lasting benefits as an adult.

Image from the original article:

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/2012/08/21/even-

a-few-years-of-music-training-benefits-the-brain/?WT.mc_id=SA_syn_HuffPo

I decided to lay out the main benefits discussed in the article, beginning with this: Even kids who only play for a few years have benefits: "short-term music lessons may enhance lifelong listening and learning."


Benefits That Show Even When We're Young:

• Shapes how brains develop, improving the ability to differentiate sounds and speech
• Strong linguistic benefits
• Improves performance on everyday listening tasks, making us better at focusing on sound and perceiving different sounds
• Better performance in school: 
• stronger reading skills, increased math abilities, and higher general intelligence scores
• Improves social development

Benefits That Continue To Show As We Age:

• Musicians are better able to process foreign languages because of their ability to hear differences in pitch and have incredible abilities to detect speech in noise
• Adults who had only a few years of musical training as children had more robust neural processing of different test sounds than those who had not had training. They were also more effective at pulling out the lowest frequency sound of the test noises

As we all know, music training benefits many aspects of life. The two things that came to mind after reading this article:

1) The importance of music education, and the impact it can have on our children and their lives as adults
2) Music education helps the brain at any age - it's never too late to start (take it from my Mom and co-founder of iCA - she picked her instrument up at age 48!)

Make sure to go read the full article (from which I quoted much of the above) to learn about the importance of everything listed and more - it's worth it!

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/2012/08/21/even-a-few-years-of-music-training-benefits-the-brain/?WT.mc_id=SA_syn_HuffPo - by Christine Wilcox


Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is all about Jazz, since April is Jazz Appreciation Month!



Heather (iCA President)
www.InstrumentCareApparel.com

Celebrating Florence Beatrice Smith Price, Born today in 1887

Picture Little Rock, Arkansas in 1887. A time of severe racial segregation for African American's, life was not easy. Amazingly, a woman named Florence Beatrice Smith Price overcame the prejudice around her, and became the first African American woman in the United States recognized as a symphonic composer.

Born today, April 9, 1887, Florence Beatrice Smith Price, was always destined for her future career. Learning from her mother, she performed her first piano recital at age 4. By age 11 she had published her first work. At 14, she had graduated high school (valedictorian) and started at The New England Conservatory of Music. Passing as hispanic for some time, Price had many hurdles to jump over.

Image from: Biography.com, Florence Price

It was her classic European education at the conservatory, that she combined with her ancestral spirituals, to make a sound unlike any other. Facing constant racial prejudices and the resulting rejections, Price continued to work  hard and compose until eventually she was recognized from the city to national levels.

A name many are unfamiliar with, we wanted to bring attention to her day of birth, 127 years ago today. A story of inspiration, persistence, and strength, Beatrice Price is someone we can all look up to.

Price died from a stroke on June 3, 1953, but her work has continued to live on. Please take a moment to listen to the 3rd Movement from her piece Symphony No. 3 in C Minor; and share her story with someone who would be interested.

For more of Price's story, view our resources below:
http://musiced.about.com/od/blackhistorymonth/p/florenceprice.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Beatrice_Price
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1742
http://www.biography.com/people/florence-beatrice-price-21120681


Make sure to check back next week to see our next blog post, which talks about how music training benefits the brain.


Heather (iCA President)
www.InstrumentCareApparel.com

Landfill Harmonic: A Story You Can't Ignore

It started with a viral video I came across on Facebook last year. Imagine children living with their families on a landfill. It's the way of life for the families of Cateura, Paraguay. In an effort to keep the kids from playing in the landfill, a local garbage picker and a local musician decided to bring music to the children of Cateura. They began searching the garbage with a new mission: to make instruments from the "trash" that is their livelihood.

The story that emerged is one of the most inspirational I've ever seen. Take a few minutes to watch the video that started it all and see how one innovative idea is changing so many lives with the Landfill Harmonic.

Now that you've seen the video, you're probably thinking, "What's next for the Landfill Harmonic?" Three production companies, along with their sponsors and partners, have come together to make a documentary about the story. Depending on the amount of money they raise, they're hoping to go further than just a movie. From instrument drives to educational workshops that teach kids to build their own recycled instruments, it is clear that the production companies and others involved have high hopes for how the Landfill Harmonic can inspire people around the world.

As do we.

Every dollar or minute of help counts. Spreading education and instruments to people around the world who otherwise don't have access is priceless. Please stay tuned, I anticipate big things coming from Landfill Harmonic and those who are doing everything they can to get their story heard.

This story is important, and I wanted to share it with you, our readers. See their website to donate or get involved. We did, and we hope you will too. http://www.landfillharmonicmovie.com/




Make sure to check back next Tuesday to see our next blog post, which highlights the life and celebrates the birthday (April 9th, 1887) of Florence Price, a composer whose story we should all know.


Heather (iCA President)
www.InstrumentCareApparel.com