December 2008

Listen, said Simon Fischer in the Austa videos on youtube.This is for me the most important piece of advice that he gave because its the one thing many of us forget to do. This word was also used by Daniel Barenboim in a BBC interview outlining his vision of the Middle East and the orchestra he has created in order to try to bring down barriers.If the musicians learn to listen to each other whilst making music they will listen to each other when talking, they will listen to their inner voice and will also learn to analyse situations better whether musical or otherwise. I recommend the interview the first part which is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddI4WTEAqDA

However the interviewer also wasn't listening as he insinuated that the orchetra had not achieved its aims as there was still much unrest in the region. Even if only 30 individuals learn to listen the achievement is great as those 30 will hopefully teach another 30 individuals how to listen.The world wasn't built in a day and neither will the seemingly unsurmountable problems in the Middle East be solved in a day but as the slogan goes 'Make music not War or Walls'.So my New Years resolution is quite simple and there is only one because as Simon Fischer points out in his video it solves a host of problems. I am going to LISTEN more. My New Years wish is to be able to return to Palestine again this summer for the musical summer camp although problems with funding make this unlikely.

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More entries: November 2008

Music Giveaway

Mark O'Connor's method books -- released this week -- teach students using many styles of American music. Enter to win a set of the books this week, on Violinist.com. Photo: Deanna Rose