As a musician, you always hope that the stories you tell through music will touch the lives of those around you.  That a song will help trigger a memory that makes the audience smile.  That a certain beat will reach into a persons soul and make them want to dance.  It’s why we do what we do.

The Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra developed Adventures in Music (AIM) to implement the symphony’s goal to offer music education for all ages. This program provides the opportunity for all elementary school students to experience live cultural arts performances, with music as the primary focus. AIM places emphasis on the quality of musicians and music presented to the students. Support from other local arts groups allows this project to provide a wide variety of cultural arts experiences.  The April series was devoted to none other than country music.

When I was approached about being a part of “Adventures in Music” for the Port Angeles Symphony, I was honored and excited.  I mean, what could be more fun than singing to little kids and teaching them about country music?  My job was simple…give the kids a brief history of country music, where it came from and how it got to where it is today.  I was going to play teacher…a secret dream I’ve always had…and I was going to teach them music.  Little did I know that I would be the one learning from this ‘adventure’.

In a total of 6 days, Al Harris (piano), Elaine Gardner-Morales (bass), Tom Svornich (drums), Rich Erickson (guitar) and myself toured 16 schools, gave 19 performances, and taught over 3000 elementary children about the history of country.  On day one…school one…a precious little girl, who has some delays with her hands and her sight, wanted to come closer to the instruments and get a closer look.  She smiled as she carefully came close.  After she walked away, Rich had me invite her back over to strum HIS guitar and let her make music of her own.

As she strummed the notes, Rich did the chord fingering, and told her what chord she was playing.  As she squealed with delight, tears filled my eyes.  We hadn’t even started our first presentation.  I knew this opportunity that had been laid out in front of me was going to fill my heart with joy.

School after school, children would clap, sing, laugh and dance about as we sang them classic songs from Patsy, Johnny, Dolly and Reba.  I started each presentation with having the kids yell as loudly as they could, “HELLO!”.  Then we were off with the history.  How adding in musical instruments made the sound change.  Tom (drums) would show the kids different styles of drumming as he settled into the ‘train style’.  Rich (guitar) showed them all the ways to bend a note, what a hammer-on sounded like, and how Merle Travis changed the sound of guitar by finger picking.  Elaine (bass) taught them that walk-ups and walk-downs make songs more interesting and that honestly…the bass is the backbone of the group.  And Al (keys) taught them that every style of music has their own scale, and what that scale sounds like.

And the singer?  Well…I was just the lucky one who got to help showcase how all those ‘tricks’ with the instruments came together and made a song.  I was also the fortunate recipient of all the hugs and high-fives from children, who, kind of thought we were rock stars.

As I mentioned earlier, I was the one who got to learn.  I learned that music truly is the universal language.  The kids didn’t care that they had never heard a Patsy Cline song…but they did care that someone was teaching them about it.  They didn’t know how influential Johnny Cash was…but they did know they loved the train style drumming that was vibrating the floor.

Sequim, Port Angeles, Neah Bay, Clallam Bay, Forks, Joyce, Chimacum, and Quilcene.  All very different towns, but all filled with kids who love music, teachers who want to make a difference, and school boards who understand just how important music is.  Thank you to the 16 schools that opened their doors to us.  You all are doing amazing work with the kids, and we had a wonderful time!

And I’d be remiss if I failed to mention what a HUGE role Radio Pacific, Inc. played in this.  I am so beyond grateful that I work for a company who loves this community…and who understands what an incredible program “Adventures in Music” is.  They allowed me to float in and out of my office for six days to do this.  They fully supported this, and allowed me the chance to teach, and to learn.

For more information on the Adventures in Music Program, or to help support it, click here.

You can also call the symphony conductor and Executive Director, Jonathan Pasternack at 360-457-5579 and see how you can help keep this amazing program thriving.

(pictured below from left to right: Amanda, Tom, Elaine, Al (keys) and Rich)

“MUSIC is life, that’s why our hearts have BEATS”