July 19, 2008

Innovation Strategy: Music Service Corps

Everyone agrees that solving today's complex and troubling global challenges will require new ways of thinking and working. A majority of Fortune 500 companies tell us that, even more than reading and math, American students need to be learning the core skills of innovation to succeed in a competitive world economy.

How do we ingrain our future workforce with the common skills of the most successful innovators---the scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs and policy-makers who conceive and create solutions to our most vexing problems? Skills like: imagining possibilities; having the courage, persistence and discipline to pursue them; working on a team, integrating feedback and performing under pressure.

In the spirit of thinking outside-of-the-box, I'll submit a word: music. We should create a national service corps for musicians and artists to work in public schools and underserved communities. Not only because the arts are important. But because the critical skills a child develops when she struggles with her instrument, writes a song, joins a band or finds her voice in a choir are the same ones needed to succeed in the creative economy and solve our greatest future challenges.

The Music National Service Initiative (MNSi) is piloting this idea with MusicianCorps -- a "musical Peace Corps" that seeks to increase school and life achievement among disadvantaged youth by expanding access to quality music education. To quote a 2006 speech of former Governor, current bass player, Mike Huckabee: "Ask a CEO what they are looking for in an employee and they say they need people who understand teamwork, people who are disciplined, people who get the big picture. You know what they need? They need musicians."

Music education has been shown to increase concentration abilities as well as intuitive and conceptual thinking. And schools with music programs have significantly higher graduation rates than those without (90.2% as compared to 72.9% according to a 2006 Harris survey of high school principals).

Of course, kids also love music. In a recent MTV survey, teens stated that music defines them more than family, moral values, religion, and style. Before software engineers can create complex algorithms, they must first develop a passion for inquiry, exploration, trial and error. In short, great innovators love to learn. And nothing engages young people in the process of learning better than music and the arts.


Unfortunately, school budget cuts and stretched family incomes have greatly reduced opportunities for enrichment through music and the arts. MusicianCorps would help address this need, and benefit not only the children but also our economy ($166.2 billion annually) and culture.

The strategy is rapidly gaining traction. The Aspen Institute recently named MusicianCorps 1 of "10 innovative policy proposals that will strengthen U.S. communities". Last month, an unprecedented national gathering of music and arts organizations voted to "create a national AmeriCorps/WPA-type program" for artists. And Barack Obama lists an Artist Corps among his top priorities in his arts policy paper.

At the same time, national service programs are set for significant growth. Yesterday, Time magazine's Managing Editor, Richard Stengel followed up on last year's national service cover story("The Case for National Service") with a public commitment to help make it a legislative priority in Washington. The presumptive Democratic nominee has already stated his intention to double the size of the Peace Corps and expand Americorps from 75,000 corps members/yr to 250,000. And a group of music-loving Congressional Members is forming a bi-partisan "Musicians Caucus" to add a little groove to the upcoming service debate.

Music has a rich history of creating conditions for more civil dialogue on Capitol Hill. Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan would finish a bruising week of legislative battles singing Irish songs together at a piano. Recently deceased White House spokesman, Tony Snow often attributed his positive outlook to his flute playing. And many elected officials have spoken freely about how music provides a "constructive outlet" for their stress and allows them to "transcend politics."


Imagine what constructive music outlets could do for millions of youth--many of whom come from low-income, violent neighborhoods and have never spent time with their father--as they try to process complex emotions, stay out of trouble and succeed in school. Before he was given a trumpet, Ambassador Satchmo, Louis Armstrong himself was considered a juvenile delinquent. It's not a stretch to say that Music saves lives.



Imagine 25,000 musicians and artists, 10 percent of what's been proposed for AmeriCorps, working not only with kids who can't afford instruments or lessons, but with disabled children, elderly with dementia, returning soldiers with post traumatic stress disorder and to strengthen American relations abroad as Armstrong and the Jazz Ambassadors did during the cold war.

As Members of Congress consider launching a new Health Corps, Green Corps and Education Corps, let's not forget an Artist Corps, the creative catalyst that will help them all - not only to address the world that is, but to imagine and innovate the world that can be.

Kiff Gallagher is a singer-songwriter and Founding Chair of the Music National Service Initiative. He is a past President of Social Venture Network; and served on the White House legislative team that created AmeriCorps.

July 16, 2008

Sen. Hatch Writes Song to Express Feelings for Kennedy

Ballad Across the Aisle for Ailing Senator Touches Many in Congress; May be Played at the Democratic Convention



http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/07/16/across_the_aisle_a_ballad_to_kennedy/?s_campaign=8315

June 29, 2008

When Ambassadors Had Rhythm

"Armstrong, Goodman, Gillespie and the rest were linking freedom in music with freedom in life." Above, Louis Armstrong in Cairo in 1961.

We can argue all we want about the "intrinsic verses the instrumental value" of the arts. We can take our MBA's and social entrepreneurs and calculate the SROI (return on social investment) and "cost per MusicianCorps Fellow" (AmeriCorps Member). But the more complex our domestic and global challenges become, the more we're going to need to develop new narratives, new stories that help create a positive future. Could music play a role? The picture above tells a thousand words.

Thanks to retired Bay Area music teacher, Carla Newton, for the heads up on this morning's NYT piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/arts/music/29kapl.html?ref=arts

kiff

June 26, 2008

It was a year that would teach her the satisfaction of tiny victories in a place where homelessness means that some kids cannot take their instruments home to practice, where chronic asthma forces some to switch from wind instruments to percussion, where the roar of a lunchroom leaves a newcomer stunned.

Ms. Vegter, 25, was there as part of a well-financed experiment by some of the nation´s most powerful musical institutions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/arts/music/22waki.html?_r=1&scp=43&sq=fellow&st=nyt&oref=slogin

June 25, 2008

Millions Flock to Watch Disney's "Camp Rock"

Something about music...

"Camp" debuted to 8.9 million total viewers Friday night, with fans holding viewing parties nationwide. A second airing Saturday night on ABC pulled in 3.6 million viewers, while a third airing Sunday on ABC Family averaged a solid 3.7 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

Meanwhile, the movie's premiere in Canada became Family Channel's second-most-watched movie ever, behind Disney Channel's "High School Musical 2" (848,000 total viewers vs. 1 million).

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib3b4f691bfdc20777e32639ff64db485

June 24, 2008

Music Saves Lives: In Prison

"The despair gripped me, like a nightmare had become my life," said Ms. Ahmad, 26, a shy law student from Malaysia who claims she is innocent of charges of trying to smuggle cocaine on a flight from Caracas to Paris. "But when the music begins, I am lifted away from this place." Ms. Ahmad plays violin and sings in the prison´s orchestra.



A rehearsal of an orchestra and its chorus, above, made up of inmates from the National Institute of Feminine Orientation, a women´s prison in Los Teques, Venezuela. The orchestra is modeled on a system that teaches classical music to poor children.

Yesterday's NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/world/americas/23venezuela.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=amid+despair+in+a+venezuelan&st=nyt&oref=slogin

June 17, 2008

Rock, Pop & Soul with Huckabee & Obama

Music's a uniter, not a divider! It certainly transcends political parties, religious affiliations, ethnicities�and most everything else that can come between us.

Senator Obama (Michelle above w/ Stevie) wants to create an "Artist Corps." Governor Huckabee (above, smiling w/ his bass) wants to make universal music and arts education the law of the land...Hmmm, future Co-Chairs of the Music National Service initiative?

June 17, 2008

A symbol of mental willpower

From David Brooks, today, NYT: "Then they get spiritual. In Slate, Robert Wright only semi-facetiously compared Woods to Gandhi, for his ability to live in the present and achieve transcendent awareness. Analysts inevitably bring up his mother´s Buddhism, his experiments in meditation. They describe his match-mentality in the phrases one might use to describe a guru achieving nirvana. He achieves, they say, perfect clarity, tranquility and flow."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/opinion/17brooks.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

June 16, 2008

Luke Russert, son of the late 'Meet the Press' moderator Tim Russert, touches his father's empty chair on the darkened set at NBC studios in Washington.


Democratic strategist James Carville and wife, Republican strategist Mary Matalin, regular 'Meet the Press' guests, burst into tears during taping of Sundays tribute show.

June 15, 2008

Missing Russert...

Tim Russert dies at 58. For me, Sundays will never be the same...but the loss of Tim Russert is bigger than the sadness we all feel in his absence. In my opinion, through his weekly show "Meet the Press," Tim played a key role in making our democracy work. I'm not exaggerating. Tim was unique -- deeply respected by Democrats and Republicans alike, and fiercely committed to uncovering the truth and holding politicians' feet to the fire. Tim had unique cred + ability. His credibility and commitment was unmatched among political journalists. Let's hope that his life inspires remaining talking heads to reach for the highest standards that he established and embodied. This election is too important; literally, our Democracy is calling.

One more important note about Russert on this Father's Day: Tim dedicated his life to celebrating fatherhood and encouraging people to understand and love their dad. His book, Big Russ, about his father was a best seller. Thank you for your gifts to us all Tim. Happy Father's Day.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/

June 10, 2008

Rolex Funds Artist Mentor Program

23 artists have been selected in an unusual program Rolex started in 2002 that pairs developing artists with masters over the course of a year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/arts/10ment.html?ref=arts

At about $100K/pop, looks like there's money out there for artist cultivation. Interesting to consider the different thresholds required ("cost per artist" for instance) for federal verses corporate funding of arts programs...

June 8, 2008

Music Saves Lives: "The Visitor" Edition

When a Syrian djembe player teaches a UConn economics professor to play, "the key is not to think."



A little bit like "Lost in Translation" but Scarlett J. is a djembe.

June 7, 2008

Dr. John Still Loves New Orleans, and Now He�s Mad

NEW ORLEANS — Mac Rebennack, the 67-year-old New Orleans pianist, guitarist and songwriter better known as Dr. John, carries the city´s lore in his fingers, his scratchy voice and his memory. He has lived in New York City and on Long Island since the 1980s, but when he revisits his birthplace it´s as if he never left. New Orleans culture, he said in his ever-surprising vocabulary, has "wacknosity" — things only New Orleanians do.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/arts/music/07john.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

June 5, 2008

Important New Book, Arts Inc. by Bill Ivey

In this impassioned and persuasive book, Bill Ivey, the former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, assesses the current state of the arts in America and finds cause for alarm. Even as he celebrates our ever-emerging culture and the way it enriches our lives here at home while spreading the dream of democracy around the world, he points to a looming crisis. The expanding footprint of copyright, an unconstrained arts industry marketplace, and a government unwilling to engage culture as a serious arena for public policy have come together to undermine art, artistry, and cultural heritage—the expressive life of America. In eight succinct chapters, Ivey blends personal and professional memoir, policy analysis, and deeply held convictions to explore and define a coordinated vision for art, culture, and expression in American life. (from http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/10151.php)

June 2, 2008

Girls Rock! With Directors Tonight at Red Vic!

Check the script below 1:58...Music Saves Lives.

May 31, 2008

"Nawleans" Music Saves Lives

New Orleans, LA: Highschoolers who couldn't get a gig, rock a street corner instead.

Photo by Andrew Ferrone for PeaceLabs.

May 30, 2008

Bipartisan Band Rocks the House

The start of the "Congressional Musicians Caucus." We'll need their help to get MusicianCorps programs thru with National Service, Education, Health and Foreign Affairs (State Dept., etc) legislation: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10493.html

Then, of course, there's these guys:



"How exactly the original lineup -- Trent Lott, John Ashcroft, Jim Jeffords and Larry Craig -- was formed remains shrouded in mystery, and little is known about the decision to exclude Orrin Hatch, at the time the Senate's most successful Christian recording artist. But from that moment, the quartet was unstoppable."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091000062.html

And finally, the man with the purse strings likes to jam...

"Rep. Obey Plays Some Killer Harp to Dancing Fans"

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/04/rep_obey_plays_some_killer_har.html

Those who have worked with (or against) House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) know him as an intensely focused budget wonk with a very short fuse. But those who have jammed out with the 69-year-old Obey, as several House members did Tuesday night, know him as a "killer" harmonica player who gets crowds jumping to their feet and shaking their stuff.

May 29, 2008

New Orleans Music Mentors Draw Crowds

"You get the feeling that...when you play something good, you're proud."

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=78a49cda2aa27c37b6ae522bb32b4c7c2ad0c3c3

http://www.nytimes-institute.com/?p=148

http://www.nytimes-institute.com/?p=207

May 26, 2008

There is nothing naive about your impulse to change this world.

Enough to make an alumnus proud...ckg, Wes '91

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Sen. Barack Obama asked Wesleyan University graduates Sunday to pursue a cause greater than themselves, saying, "There is nothing na�ve about your impulse to change this world." http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10608.html

May 15, 2008

Relax To Music, Ease Blood Pressure

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/14/health/webmd/main4095900.shtml

May 9, 2008

Blue Bear Live III Tonight at Great American!

We hope to see you at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco tonight:
http://www.bluebearmusic.org/bblive

May 8, 2008

battle at Kruger

http://www.BattleAtKruger.com

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM

May 4, 2008

PeaceLabs in Pakistan; Roots Keep it Real; Neville's Back in New Orleans

Mr. Kacmaz (pronounced KATCH-maz) is part of a group of Turkish educators who have come to this battleground (Pakistan) with an entirely different vision of Islam. Theirs is moderate and flexible, comfortably coexisting with the West while remaining distinct from it. Like Muslim Peace Corps volunteers, they promote this approach in schools, which are now established in more than 80 countries, Muslim and Christian.
The schools, which also operate in Christian countries like Russia, are not for Muslims alone, and one of their stated aims is to promote interfaith understanding. Mr. Gulen met the previous pope, as well as Jewish and Orthodox Christian leaders, and teachers in the schools say they stress multiculturalism and universal values.
"We are all humans," said Mr. Kacmaz, the principal. "In Islam, every human being is very important."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/world/asia/04islam.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin





http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/arts/music/28coac.html



http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/arts/music/04chin.html



http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/arts/music/03nevi.html

May 3, 2008

B(L)S & Avoiding Alzheimer's with Piano Lessons

Remember the movie Wag the Dog? The Bureau of Labor Statistics seems to have liked that movie: http://bigpicture.typepad.com

Back to music. Music sharpens mental acuity for aging boomers in today's NYT:



"There is a gradual growing awareness that challenging your brain can have positive effects," Dr. Cohen said. He said the plasticity of the brain is directly related to the production of new dendrites, the branched, tree-like neural projections that carry electrical signals through the brain "Every time you challenge your brain it will actually modify the brain," he said. "We can indeed form new brain cells, despite a century of being told it´s impossible."

In pursuit of his own dendritic growth, Dr. Cohen plans to take up the piano again after years of not playing. He is also sketching out a science-fiction novel he hopes to write.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/technology/03brain.html

May 2, 2008

War Endangers Iraqi Music & NYC Subway idol

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/world/middleeast/01oud.html?scp=1&sq=A+Fabled+Instrument&st=nyt






http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/02/nyregion/02audition.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin

April 30, 2008

WritersCorps Youth Poets @ Intersection SF

WritersCorps youth spoke their words last night at Intersection in the Mission, San Francisco. http://www.sfartscommission.org/WC/

April 28, 2008

West African Drumming Class for Umana Public Middle School Kids in Boston

The Music National Service Initiative looks to teachers like Jeremy Cohen as models for the kind of creativity, innovation and true grit required to do the difficult and important work of reviving music education in our nation's schools. With African drumming, he has found a real solution to a fundamental dilemna: how to engage and inspire students without forsaking rigor and discipline. His drumming curriculum exposes young people to the power of music and leverages that power to broaden their cultural horizons."

Jeremy's page and videos: http://thisworldmusic.com

I used to study West African drumming and dance under Master Drummer, Abraham Adzenyah from Ghana. He was one of my favorite teachers at Wesleyan University in CT.



http://www.wesleyan.edu/music/Adzenyah/inthere.html
http://www.bowdoin.edu/news/events/archives/002016.shtml

April 28, 2008

Roots of MNSi - Not Just Music Education

MusicianCorps will expand access to quality music education for disadvantaged youth. But The Music National Service initiative really comes from a broader desire to promote the use of music (and youth service) to achieve many civic and social goals, not just public school education ones. El Sistema addresses poverty and youth development; Goldman Prize winner, Feliciano dos Santos, uses music to improve health and, literally, save lives in Mozambique (http://www.goldmanprize.org/2008/africa); and 2 new films -- http://www.autismthemusical.com and http://www.youngatheartchorus.com demonstrate music's positive impacts on the challenges of living with disabilities and aging.

April 28, 2008

Jeremiah Write: How African American Kids Learn Music

Anybody catch his extensive comments about this yesterday in his address to the NAACP?

We'd love to get a link to that video clip or transcript...

April 27, 2008

"Once" - the film

I realize that I'm way late on this one. Just saw it last night. But how amazing (and somewhat cathartic to know) that so many people have seen a film that honestly depicts the passion and struggles of a talented, but "undiscovered," singer songwriter.

How could an artist be so gifted, authentic, driven and raw...and still be poor, fighting for scraps and barely able to come up with enough dough to record his work (48 hrs in a studio)?

Times may be tough for everyone. But it seems like there's a sense among arts funders that singer songwriting is more of a pop culture phenomenon than "true art." Maaaaybe it's a "low art" (at best). But these folks (and Rock Star wanna be's) will be taken care of by the commercial sector. They'll get picked up by American Idol or something. We don't need to sorry about them.

Anyone taken a peek at the music industry lately? I wish some deep-pocketed arts funders would simply acknowledge the transformative power and wonderful craft of, yes, pop song writing...then, back that recognition with an investment that identifies and supports the best, like the major labels used to do.

Why leave all the spoils and fun to MySpace, Apple and our friends at Clear Channel? How bout an investment in artists like these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoSL_qayMCc? One that gives them an opportunity to serve for the benefit of all?

Music National Service.

April 26, 2008

Value of Arts: Battleground '08

Check out this article in NYT mag tomorrow. MNSi is happy to be studying with our friends (at Harvard's Project Zero and CAPE) who promote the "studio habits" impact of the arts. But we also thank the friendly west coast crew that's showing us how more music ALSO makes for better math and reading : )

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/magazine/27wwln-lede-t.html?ref=magazine

April 25, 2008

Music Saves Lives (East Coast)

Check out this letter I just received:

Congrats on PeaceLabs MusiCorps !

I am Pres of Students for Seniors Symphonies. My daughter is founder of Strings Work (going on it's third year). Their mission is to use music (free string instrument training) as a social service tool. She goes into small urban communities (serving mostly the black community) with a her group teaching method and sets up a music conservatory-like after-school program.

Since 1998, I have been a strong advocate to rally gifted (amateur) musicians to use their talents for the sake of others. We have two multi-generational orchestras (for cancer center interaction), a jazz group in Princeton, playhouse for musicals and the outreach program.

Anyway, Carol Anne Blank NJMTA (Past Pres) thought that I should let you know that someone on the East Coast shares your interest and supports your altruistic goals.

Bill Kauffman

Right on Bill!!!! Thanks for your inspirational work and for reaching out. Let's build a movement! kiff

April 25, 2008

Bill Fletcher my teacher and friend

Bill Fletcher was my high school composition and choral teacher (story in yesterday's hometown paper): http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/ENTERTAINMENT/804240310/1043/NEWS01

Bill's a great teacher and artist, with deep and diverse influences. He's a natural creative who imagines possibilities and believes in his students -- he elicits their best through his confidence and optimism. I love this guy.

April 24, 2008

Studio Thinking (like creative habits below)

Also see Ellen Winner from Harvard's Project Zero (and Lois Hetland), "Studio Thinking":
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/09/02/art_for_our_sake/

Studio and Creative Habits seem closely related to Deliberate Practice Theory. Nutshell: http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/how-did-a-rod-get-so-good/

random, good advertising: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXIfU-87TZo

April 24, 2008

Not Arts for Arts Sake...Arts Corps Video

Hey, we're not trying to reinvent the wheel...just how we talk about it. "Arts for arts sake" (because it feels so important) doesn't cut it in these tough times (of no $ for schools). "Music for reading and math sake" (cuz we know music students perform better in math and reading SATs) doesn't tell me why we shouldn't just do more reading and math in schools (the NCLB approach). But music and the arts to create students who perform better in school and life because they've learned how to imagine possibilities & take risks, how to have discipline & persist, how to work on a team & integrate feedback, how to reflect & think critically...now we're on to something. Check out how our friends at Arts Corps in Seattle break it down beautifully in this video: http://www.artscorps.org/Gallery/video.html

April 23, 2008

Sir Ken Robinson & Daniel Pink

Why teaching creativity and the arts are important RIGHT NOW. Easy listening for popsters:

video - Sir Ken Robinson, "Schools Kill Creativity" at TED: http://www.ted.com/index.php/speakers/view/id/69
(this video's all the rage, gone viral)

audio - Daniel Pink, "Arts Education is an Urgency":
http://www.artsusa.org/information_services/video_audio/default.asp#pink
(similar arguments this side of the pond, without reading his book. thanks to Jean at FMC, http://www.futureofmusic.org for frwd'g this)

more to come...

April 21, 2008

Headed to SacTown Arts-Ed Style

driving to Sacramento this morning for a day of meetings with arts agencies and school district administrators, higher ed folks and state legislators. let's see if we can make some headway with MusicianCorps in Cali...

http://www.artsed411.org
http://www.ccsesa.org/index/hotTopics.cfm?hotTopicId=1872668999

I live my life in widening circles
that reach out across the world.
I may not complete this last one
but I give myself to it.

I circle around God, around the primordial tower.
I've been circling for thousands of years
and I still don't know: am I a falcon,
a storm, or a great song?

~ Ranier Maria Rilke ~

April 18, 2008

Louise Packard and Trinity Inspire

Check out MusicianCorps supporter and friend Louise Packard's inspiring gig in Boston, Ma: http://trinityinspires.org. Louise just had a successful event honoring Boston's Youth where young artists performed hip-hop and spoken word: http://www.peacelabs.org/files/BostoniansForYouthPix.pdf

April 15, 2008

Music Saves Lives (in Mozambique)

You gotta check out the video of 2008 Goldman prize winner, Mozambique's Feliciano dos Santos: http://www.goldmanprize.org/2008/africa.

The Music National Service initiative and MusicianCorps is focused first on bringing quality music education to our own nation's, low income, public school children. But we definitely need a global music strategy. Not a commercial one, but one that supports work like Feliciano's, a "musical Peace Corps." Yeah? Let's do it!

December 26, 2007

Hallmark Solutions

Hallmark Solutions finances and develops housing for people with developmental disabilities in California. See PeaceLabs Advisor, HCS Executive Director, Mardie Oaks' latest project.

December 22, 2007

Thomas Neff's New Book

Photographer Thomas Neff releases his awesome photo series with stories about New Orleans residences who refused to leave during Hurricane Katrina. Pick one up as a gift here.