What do Vince Lombardi, Tony Dungy, Duke Ellington and Wynton Marsalis have in common? The answer is that to achieve the level of success they have all had to be great leaders. Say what? Football coaches and jazz musicians are leaders of equal effectiveness and influence? Absolutely. In fact, given that April is Jazz Appreciation […]
LNP recently featured an article by Dr. John Gerdy, highlighting the power of music (and the role of music) in the journey of a refugee in Lancaster, PA. ___ Another refugee family arrives in Lancaster, a family of six: Asukulu, his wife, Nyassa, and their four children: Temsi , 11, Vumilia, 9, Ivon, 5, and
At the end of an arduous journey, a refugee family rejoices with music Read More »
Music is the universal language.
That being the case it has long been used as a tool to expose social injustice and to spur community activism. From Sam Cooke’s, “A Change is Gonna Come” to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin On” to Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power”, the power of music and song as tool to protest injustice and spur change is enormous. Music provides a framework and platform through which to package and present an idea or point of view. As a result, music can serve to open up conversations and spur reflection and action relating to the issues of the day.
In a world of declining resources and increasing expectations for what constitutes an education worthy of the 21st century, every dollar counts. In such an environment, being able to effectively advocate for programs that yield the most effective educational ROI becomes critically important. As music’s power and potential as an effective educational tool becomes more apparent, music educators and advocates must become more aggressive and strategic in advancing music’s impact as a superior educational investment.
Hip Cat playing Piano I’d never given any thought to whether pianos, like humans, are living, breathing beings with souls. That changed the morning I stopped by the Music For Everyone Keys for the City piano located in front of Lancaster’s Main Public Library early one May morning in 2010. Since 2010 MFE has been
As the baby-boomer generation scoots beyond “middle age” towards the status of “elderly”, we are hearing and reading more about health related issues, both personal and public. Everyone, it seems is concerned with improving health by doing the types of things that can lead to a longer, more productive and vibrant life. There are many
Fewer Shrinks, Regimens and Pills, More Singin’, Strummin’ and Jammin’ Read More »
