Nelson Mandela said,

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

Today of all days, September 11^th, it is impossible to forget that we live free in America. 

 It was exactly a year ago today that Spirit of America visited Inkamana Abbey in Vryheid, South Africa, and the staff and students there respectfully shared their prayers for our nation on the 10^th anniversary of 9/11.

“Freedom” is something that both of our countries have fought for. We know it comes at a high price. It is one of the strongest pillars upon which we stand. It is one of the goals Spirit of America Band strives to meet. 

The life lessons that face the young people of Spirit of America when they work on Winter Percussion drill, or when they travel to South Africa to share lessons and knowledge, invaluably inform their lives. They develop respect for others, hone their ability to communicate, and recognize that hard work has a larger reward than ‘winning the gold.’ They learn to settle for nothing less than their best, and to recognize for themselves when they have achieved it.

We’re on the brink of our second trip to South Africa. How incredible to share this spirit of freedom and respect with each other.

Time in the Sun

The group of people going to South Africa on Saturday are starting to prepare: finishing up a recording, or working out childcare schedules, from covering jobs or doing the job on the road, and packing.

This is a joyous and exciting trip.  It is a second step to our commitment to come along side our friends and see things through.  For the last year there has been weekly skyping lessons. That is a long distance lesson !   And whether there are many or just a few students the lessons have continued every Wednesday.

One of the cruelest things to do is to give someone without hope a future with no tools to succeed. We have not just dropped a promised dream in their world to turn and desert them.  We are stepping in, fulfilling our promise, and becoming more.

 For SOA we are going to see dear friends that we haven't seen for a year.  We learned many things from our time with them.  They have a quality in their relationships with each other that we admired.  Even the areas that had little in the way of possessions had richness in their lives that we were drawn to.

Almost always when we cross out of the United States and into another country we find new "old" friends.  How sweet to be able to keep them.

Auditions again !

Second round of Auditions for Winter Percussion is today.  I happened to be waiting for someone when a small group of the kids auditioning were striding confidently behind their teacher to a practice room to listen to "Crunch notes" (which we thought sounded like a cereal!).

When they walked back by they were talking excitedly about the improvisation their teacher had done while showing them the crunch notes. It was really amazing to see their minds grab the idea and turn it around with each other...the sharing of a discovery. I wonder if we will hear the influence in this years music...

Now we wait...

Well the audition results are not in yet. All the kids I talked to thought it went well, but still are in that "after test did I do it good enough" frame of mind! I hope we see them all on the floor...

Winter Percussion Auditions

Once again the Winter Percussion is running their auditions starting this Saturday at Barnstable Middle School.  I wonder what is going through the kids minds this year...Will it be as awesome as last year when we won the gold?  How can we top that ?  I've got to admit I'm wondering the same thing. 
But every year they bring something new to their shows and I can't wait to see what comes next !

Trapped

Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us.
--Unknown

What a tragic thought. Imagine, we are missing so many intriguing melodies.....what is going to happen to the young people of today ? So many of them are missing the chance to express this music trapped inside them...Spirit of America Band is trying to bridge that gap with programs like the commitment to keep teaching the South Africans we started two years ago, and the upcoming Day of Percussion that they are supporting (more news on that soon).  One of our greatest wishes over the years is to teach by example and encourage young people to follow their dreams.

I remember

I remember the very first time I heard real drums in our neighborhood. The first time that the "grandfather" of the idea that would eventually become Spirit of America had a rehearsal...there were a few older men from the neighborhood banging away on a few drums. We were planning a Birthday parade for someone down the street. 
There were children with little flags and a few goats as well (yes goats were really there).  From the very beginning it was about others and not about how you might look.  The bright joy that bloomed on the face of the Woman whose birthday was irreplaceable. That tradition continues today and is carried on by our Marching Band as well as our Winter Percussion.  The teamwork and sense of being connected can't be replaced by anything else. Funny how I don't remember what I was doing....I just remember her face as she realized it was all for her...you know that sticks with a kid.