Playing for Change

50th anniversary

Two Songs and One Story

A light touch with meaning

In 1985 Barbara Cooney wrote the children’s book Miss Rumphius and interwoven through the book is the simple message: “do something to make the world more beautiful.” 

Last month in the DownEast magazine Virginia M. Wright wrote the article Why We Love Miss Rumphius Now More Than Ever. The message is one that all Maine citizens can relate to as we drive anywhere in Maine these days and see the lupines growing. It’s an amazing site to behold and a chance to pause and consider ~what am I doing to make the world a more beautiful place? 

I sat next to Barbara Cooney on a plane in 1990. As the article says: Barbara Cooney didn’t care for sugary tales. “It does not hurt [children] to read about good and evil, love and hate, life and death,” the author and illustrator said in her 1959 Caldecott Award acceptance speech. “Nor do I think they should read only about things that they understand. … A man’s reach should exceed his grasp. So should a child’s. I will never talk down to — or draw down to — children.”

We have an opportunity as educators to read and learn and consider what action to take about what is going on in the world. If you’re looking for RESOURCES please check out the BLOG POST that is growing everyday with Social Justice resources.

Don’t Worry Be Happy

What the World Needs Now

Playing for Maine

Playing for Change

While on location filming spots for their Playing for Change inspired video “Understand” the Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAMM), with a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, filmed a number of stand alone videos showcasing their partnering artists’ own music. Below is one of those videos, House of Hope, Sorcha Cribben-Merrill.

Turnaround Arts

Everyday People

Turnaround Arts is using the Arts to create success in struggling schools. Currently  Turnaround Arts, a program of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities works in 68 schools in 36 districts and 15 states and the District of Columbia. The program has several artists, organization partners and the First Lady Michelle Obama collaborating and of course, the results are positive. If Turnaround Arts selected the state of Maine as a location, the programming and funding would have an enormous impact.

It was announced recently that the program will continue after President Obama leaves office. And, they released the inspirational video below. You can learn more about the Turnaround Arts program by CLICKING HERE.

 

Playing for Maine

Be In Love – Playing for Change – Playing for Maine

Recently in the Portland area the Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAMM) decided to create their own Playing for Change video. They partnered with a number of local filmmakers, musicians, and students to make their own video in the style of the Playing For Change “Songs Around The World” series. They selected the song by Portland musician Dominic Lavoie, “Be In Love”.

MAMM also made a commitment to raising awareness and the value of music education in the lives of young people by providing a series of local concerts in various locations in Portland.

I was surprised and very happy to see a former student of mine singing in the video, Sara Richardson.