GREAT NEWS! We just received a $5,000 grant from The West Side Community Fund and Citizens Committee for New York City to support our percussion workshops at VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Here is our founder Valerie Ghent with Margaret Coady of the Coach Foundation. Thank you West Side Community Fund and Citizens Committee for New York City for supporting our work. The power of music!
When attending our observing one of our Kids Kicking Cancer workshops at Columbia, whether songwriting, singing, or calming cello to soothe the environment when it gets busy, it’s amazing to see how music changes the mood of everyone there. The waiting room can be a stressful place; as one grapples with administrative tasks, while worrying about a treatment for themselves or a loved one that may be forthcoming. Whatever age, or role, whether actively engaged in writing/singing or actively listening…
We have the privilege of working with youth, families, and care providers at the Herbert Irving Child and Adolescent Oncology Center at Columbia University; what an inspiration they are, and what a joy for us to be able to learn from and create with them. As one of our teaching artists for this program, Eleanor Dubinsky, so eloquently put it, the “difference between you and I” becomes very minuscule in this grounding, real space where love truly abounds, and music…
I had the joy of attending our First Fridays at Bailey’s Cafe this past week; an event led by legendary singer/songwriter and FtM teaching artist Janice Pendarvis that combines singing, food and conversation in an intergenerational event for any and all to attend. No matter what ages happen to be there, it is always amazing to see how the act of singing together opens up conversations that, I believe, would not happen otherwise. Our theme this past week was mothers; and a…
Our programs for seniors are thriving this spring! Feel the Music! Singin’ Seniors at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House are in full swing, with a packed house for their April 1 concert, and another planned for June 17! Please mark your calendars now, come and join teaching artists Deborah Berg and Clare Cooper, along with our talented singers for another ROCKIN’ show! Not only are we singin’ the winter blues away, but our own Bashiri Johnson has our Feel the Music!…
On 2/18/16, I paid a visit to our Feel the Music! Singin’ Seniors class at St. Peter’s Church – what a treat! This thriving group has a loyal following of repeat students, and has grown with newcomers each year – this class had a whopping 21 students! It is a thrill to see and hear how they’ve grown in learning complex harmonies and rhythms – and most importantly, in learning to create together within community. After class, I showed them…
Our holiday concert at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House/St. Peter’s Church was ROCKIN’! Our sincere thanks to all of the friends, family, and members of the community who came out to support these amazing creative singers! Click here for more pics of this festive event. Please consider lending your support to this wonderful program, and help to bring music into the lives of more creative seniors in New York City! We sincerely thank you, all of our friends at St. Peter’s…
This spring, we were thrilled to partner with Project FIND, an organization serving low- and moderate-income and homeless seniors in New York City. Beginning next month, renowned percussionist and Feel the Music! teaching artist Bashiri Johnson will hold our first of many planned drumming workshops at Project FIND’s Hamilton House Senior Center. We can’t wait to work together to better serve the creative seniors of our community with an outlet for expression through music and rhythm. Stay tuned for more…
Feel the Music! joins Rebuilding Together NYC on Saturday, April 26, 2014, to celebrate the Canarsie, Brooklyn community as part of National Rebuilding Day. Volunteers will make major repairs for home-owners affected by Hurricane Sandy, host a neighborhood clean up and a mural beautification project. As a part of the day’s culminating event, Feel the Music!’s own teaching artist Dende Macedo will lead volunteers and community members in a drumming workshop as they come together to share, reflect and connect.…
