I love the inspirational treat that attending the Nashville Film Festival is each year. The fodder that I got to feast on this year was the Tuesday afternoon showing of A Film About Kids and Music. Sant Andreu Jazz Band. The documentary features the story of a music class in a Barcelona neighborhood that teaches children ages 6 to 18 to "speak the language" of jazz. Through the interviews with the director, Joan Chamorro, great jazz musicians, and the children themselves...I heard descriptive words that denote a rich environment for developing talents, resilience, creativity, and risk taking. NURTURE, LANGUAGE, PLAY, PRACTICE, LISTEN, TRY, ENJOY, RESEARCH, STORIES, LOVE -- speaking the language.
I have been thinking about ways to explore music in ways with all of our senses. I've been especially intrigued with the ritual of "cleaning and caring" for an instrument. I want to create a learning exhibit that would celebrate the tactile and technical experience this excersice is. One of the opening scenes of the Kids and Music film featured a six year old trumpet player cleaning her instrument at her home one evening. This quiet, sensory filled experience was visually beautiful...NURTURING, ENJOYING, LOVING...a playful pursuit.
This film would be a great inspiration break - it's lovely to think how at any age, you can explore music with all of your senses...and the love of old Jazz is fantastic.