On May 8, 2007, the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown ,1607-2007, was celebrated at the White House with music played throughout the day and evening. President and Mrs. Bush greeted Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, on the White House lawn with a blaze of trumpets and music from the Fife and Drum Corps. In the Lincoln Dining Room of the White House a toast was made to Jamestown by President Bush and Queen Elizabeth the II. Queen Elizabeth’s speech was quite eloquent reminding us of our shared histories and present strong standing with America. The article, “ Elizabeth II: Toast of an Era” from the Swamp, The Chicago Tribune’s Washington Bureau posted by Mark Silva on May 8,2007 is as follows:http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/05/elizabeth_ii_to.html
Music was an important contribution throughout the evening. As President Bush hosted the first white tie event of his presidency, he grinned “at reporters as he escorted the queen down the stairs from the White House residence and into the grand foyer, while the president’s own U.S. Marine Corps band played music ranging from classical standards to “Here Comes the Sun,” written by the late Beatles guitar player, George Harrison.” After dinner, the celebration was continued in the East Room with “ a concert by the Israeli-born violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman, accompanied on the piano by Rohan de Silva. Perlman dazzled his audience with selections by composers ranging from the Austrian violinist Fritz Kreisler to George Gershwin’s “Ain’t Necessarily so.” “These are musical bon bons,” Perlman said, concluding with a lively number by Franz Ries – “Perpetual Motion” – joking “This is a single Ries piece. “Perlman was followed by the U.S. Army Chorus with a stirring rendition of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic. “The concert concluded at 10:31 pm EDT, a reception in the Grand Foyer followed with music by the president’s own Marine Corps Band, dancing by the energetic few and mingling by the rest, as the pool was hustled out the north portico door.” This is an excerpt from “ Elizabeth II: Toast of an Era” from the Swamp, The Chicago Tribune’s Washington Bureau. Music was played throughout the entire celebration .
“The Real Roots Music of America: Music In Jamestown? The Mystery Continues” (June 2007, p.35) by Don Harrison from the magazine Virginia Living . Historians first documented evidence of music in Jamestown is in 1618 with fiddle tunes by white settlers in Virginia. Historian ,Kate Van-Winkle Keller wrote an essay on early Jamestown music (ColonialMusic.org). She writes that in 1618, “Governor Argall found it necessary to ban Sabbath-day dancing and fiddling.” Keller says, “ two years later, …another musician named John Utie settled on the York River, and that Guy Fawkes Day was celebrated with ‘musicke and dancing.” She says, “music was part of life in early Virginia …most likely played the tunes then popular in their homeland …and… Jamestown settlers would have known the music associated with Shakespeare’s plays or mentioned in other theater works.” She is the author of The National Tune Index: 18- Century Secular Music and the Forthcoming Dance and Its Music in America, 1528-1789.
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The question for June is “How can music enhance the effects of my medicine ? “According to Dr. Mike Lowis in order to activate both sides of the brain, music needs to be complex so pop music and anything with a heavy beat doesn’t work.” In using music as a medicine “just half an hour of soothing music is said to be , equivalent to 10mg of a tranquillizer such as valium- without the side effects.” “The Sound of Music” from Saga Health News (Oct.10,2006) Colin Kerr from the Irish Medical Times: The Independent Weekly for the Irish Doctor. says, “when used in combination with pain-relieving drugs, music has been found to decrease the overall intensity of the patient’s experience of pain and can sometimes result in a reduced dependence on pain medication.” … “Some classical music approximates the rhythm of the resting heart (70 beats per minute). This music can slow a heart that is beating too fast.” Psychologist Dr. Raymond Macdonald, of Glasgow’s Caledonian University explained that “when you look at brain scans of people listening to music the whole brain lights up like a Christmas tree.” Google points out the alternative medicine website www.oohoi.com which “poses the question, could music help us recover from our illness?” The web site Oohoi states that in 1992, studies were done in Germany, UK, and the US that showed patients recovered faster listening to music and felt less discomfort and anxiety. After World War II, many war veterans returned home depressed and mentally disturbed. The veterans greatest fear was their “horrifying experience of war. “ Many committed suicide, but others sought help.” Music therapy, at the end of World War 11, “was developed to help depressed soldiers returning from war. The treatment was so successful that medical authorities employed musicians in hospitals. “How Art Therapy Could Help You Stay Healthier” ( Nov. 10, 2006) by Colin Kerr from the Irish Medical Times: The Independent Weekly for the Irish Doctor.
A new study in an Ohio pain-clinic involving 40 patients had one group listening to symphonic music or jazz with headphones for an hour a day, another group listening to no music and another group listening to natural sounds or their favorite pop music. “ The music groups said their pain dropped between 12 and 21 percent… in related studies, music even helped reduce pain after surgery, lessen labor pain, aid in burn treatment …. successfully boosted immune function, treating insomnia, high blood pressure” and enhancing the “quality of life for people with cancer”. Sandra Siedlecki, Ph.D., RN. , the co-author of the Ohio study says, for best results, use ear buds or headphones as it blocks out noise. “Feel Better, Naturally” (Dec. 15, 2006) by Michael Castleman from Health.com.. “Music for body aches” .
Davide Cabassi , a classical pianist and finalist at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition played a concert at the Clovis Community College for the Arts in Healing program. Hartz says, “The Italy native said in times of sickness he turns to his piano and music for comfort.” Cabassi contracted a bone-eating virus at the age of 9 and was unable to walk. During this time he “glued himself to the keyboard,” says Hartz. Cabassi, “I was pretty sick as a kid. Then I started to play. What saved me, was discipline.” Hartz says, “Mastering the piano remained his outlet, even after the virus left his body. Later in life the artist dealt with depression.” Cabassi said, “Again, it was this box,”…pointing to the piano, that took me out.” Nola Pawol, Plains Regional Medical Center administrator and physical therapist agrees with Cabassi. “Dedication is essential in recovery. It takes a strong desire to recover if you have one side of your body paralyzed.” One of the audience, Louise Snell, 88, after Cabassi’s performance stated it this way, “Music is a part of the soul, it takes you from the lowest depths to the highest heaven.” “The Art of Healing” (Oct. 22, 2006) by Marlena Hartz: CNJ staff writer from the Clovis News Journal serving Eastern New Mexico and West Texas.
This June if you have a question about the power of music for education and healing … what would your specific question be? Tap on my web site below and look on the left side to where it says ask me a question. : www.madelinefrankviola.com
“Moyles Sees Radio Audience Soar DJ Chris Moyles Has Attracted A Record Audience to His BBC Radio 1 Show, According to New Listening Figures” ( May 10, 2007) from BBC News, UK. In the first three months of 2007, according to Rajar research, Moyles “weekly audience broke the seven million barrier…Other figures show Classical FM has seen a surge in the number of under-15s listening to the station…Rajar’s main figures only count listeners aged 15 or over-but Classical FM said it also had an extra 474,000 children tuned in.” Darren Henley, Classical FM’s managing director, says “These figures prove that today’s iPod generation is increasingly turned on by classical music. Mozart and Beethoven remain as relevant today as they were in their own lifetimes.”
“British Youth Turning On Classical Music” (May 10, 2007) from United Press International ,London . According to a “ new radio rating show about 500,000 youths under 15 are now listening to Classical FM each week. That’s a 52 percent jump from just the previous three-month period.” How is this possible for so many young people to be listening to Classical FM?
Young people are watching the movies of “Harry Potter” and “Lord of the Rings,” “which have classical music scores.” Another factor which is drawing young people to Classical music are modern presenters Katie Derham, Myleene Klass, Lisa Duncombe, and celebrity guests soccer star Graeme Le Saux, Sting, and Simon Cowell.
“Concert to Benefit Episcopal School for Underprivileged” (May 15,2007) by Cathalena E. Burch from the Tucson, Arizona Star Net. A Classical music concert is being performed by Tucson’s classical music community to benefit economically disadvantaged students at the year old Imago Dei Middle School, …which “offers tuition-free education to underprivileged children.”
“Treatment That’s in Tune: A Study of the Healing Power of Music Therapy” (May 22, 2007) by Charlie Bradley from Associated Content, DentalPlans.com-Dania, Florida. Charlie Bradley says, “Music helps to build mental capacity because we tend to associate the songs we listen to with particular events in our lives, our wedding day, along with the many events that define our lives. By recalling certain songs, we allow our minds to take us back to those special times in our live.” He talks about his grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and that she could not remember his name, his father’s name and was having trouble with her basic thought process. He says, he played “He’ll Have to Go” by Jim Reeves’ and his grandmother started singing all the words to the song and her memory returned. To read the entire article tap below:http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/249610/treatment_thats_in_tune_a_study_of.html
“Five Tips for Students Preparing for Final Exams-Dr. Carol Locke Offers Healthy Study Techniques for Students” (May 23, 2007) by Carol A. Locke, M.D. for PRWEB, Boston, MA. Dr. Locke, a Harvard trained psychiatrist offers 5 natural tips to help students study better. One of her tips is to “listen to classical music.” She says, “listening to classical music has an impact on intelligence and productivity…stimulates the mind, relieves anxiety, helps with concentration and reduces stress.” Dr. Locke advises putting Bach or Mozart on your iPod and forgetting rock and roll. To read the full article tap below:http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/5/prweb528589.htm
Reminder: No matter what your occupation, we all have one thing in common, we get stiff holding one position for to long. A few examples of this are working at a computer, working at your desk, and bending to pull out weeds in your garden. Have you ever watched an athlete do stretching exercises before a game? The reason for these exercises is to warm up muscles before getting into action. This is the same thing I do before I begin to practice my viola or sit at my computer to work on my articles.
International pianist Leon Fleisher, 77 in last months article entitle “Hands-On Music, Once Again” by Susan Elgin recovered from his dystonia ,which caused him to lose the use of his right hand at the age of 37 . Botox injections have relieved his symptoms and he is playing with both hands after a 35 year hiatus . “ When teaching master classes, Fleisher imparts health wisdom to his students in the hope of preventing injuries from “the dangers that lurk in the practice room,” he said. “When you go to the ball park, you see guys stretching, right? But no one tells piano students to stop every half hour and stretch-but that’s very important.”
Classroom Update On Using Classical Music in the Public School Classrooms and while doing homework after school:
- “Granite Falls Educator Is Nation’s Teacher of the Year” (April 26,2007) by Lynn Thompson from the Seattle Times Newspaper. The nations teacher of the year is Granite Falls music teacher, Andrea Peterson. Andrea Peterson, 33, teaches choir and music classes at Monte Cristo Elementary School. She plays “almost every instrument in the orchestra , sings, composes music, writes lyrics for her students on subjects as diverse as ocean ecology and Shakespeare.” Superintendent Joel Thaut, says, “Music isn’t a subsidiary subject in Granite Falls. It’s part of everything we do.”
- “Solano Leaders Shadow Principals” by Andrea Wolf/ Times Herald correspondent March 21,2007, Vallejo, California. Glen Cove Elementary School, Principal Greg Allison has his undergraduate degree in music and teaches his students choir on Fridays and has them perform at the end of the year for their parents. “A pianist, he also makes a point to play classical music and invite” musicians from the symphony to perform. · Northside Middle School in Norfolk, Virginia using classical music in halls and class rooms with very good success.
- Mrs. J has 3 children, ages 15, 11, and 7 who have been listening to Mozart and other classical music while doing their homework after school for 10 months, since March 05. She has seen them become more focused and relaxed , finishing homework quicker, with more accuracy which has led to higher grades.
- Mrs. JC had her fourth grade reading class , 22 in the class, listening to classical music, Mozart, during class for the entire school year .The children have consistently made 100’s on tests and work. These are just average students not exceptional.
- Mrs. G had her fifth grade students listening to classical music, played softly, while the children did creative writing assignments and when they did problem solving in math. where nothing else can. It created a calm atmosphere conducive to problem solving and creative thinking as well as an appreciation of music that they might not have experienced. The results were so good that she incorporated this into her teaching for five year.
Performing at Hospitals, Rehab Hospitals, and Retirement Homes
- Madeline Frank, violist has shared her music with patients at local Hospitals and Rehab Hospitals in Virginia. If anyone has an experience they would like to share on the benefits of classical music please write me at and I will include it in the July 2007 newsletter.
Wishing you and your family a happy Father’s Day from your Non-Invasive Medicine…Music Expert, Madeline