Kids for Coltrane

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=36754

Click on the All About Jazz.com link above to read a review of Mr. Hentoff’s latest gem.  I am so  pleased  to see my work also mentioned in the review!!

“Hentoff’s life-long dedication to the individualization of education in America is reflected in articles on jazz programs in schools and it is heartening to learn that at least some school children are being weaned on the music of saxophonist John Coltrane. Second-grade teacher Christine Passarella, of Holliswood School in Queens, says to Hentoff of Coltrane’s music: “(It) tells children to be who they want to be, that it is OK to be different, it is OK to feel, and that we all need to be able to express who we are in our own way to find what writer and philosopher Joseph Campbell called ‘following your bliss.’” ~From Ian Patterson’s review

I am grateful to the brilliant writer Nat Hentoff  for including  “The Kids for Coltrane Project in Education” in his newest book.  It is hot off the presses, and I am  learning from his sixty years on the scene.  I am beyond thrilled that Mr. Hentoff’s last chapter in the section entitled  Master Teachers  focuses on my work with the children. It brings me such hope for the future!!

Run, don’t walk and pick up your copy of  At The Jazz Band Ball: Sixty Years On the Scene by Nat Hentoff

The “Kids for Coltrane” discovering our work is included in Nat Hentoff’s latest gem! What a  terrific uplifiting feeling!

What a gift it was to listen the Tri-M Chapter play Coltrane tunes along with their talented music director, Mr. Joseph Rutkowski. The performance was just brilliant and brought tears of joy to my eyes. On a beautiful evening in May I was invited to speak to this terrific group of gifted young musicians. They hosted my visit with exuberance and had respect for this powerful and important work. Prior to my discussion with these exquisite young people, I had the opportunity to chat with their principal Mr. Kaplan, which was also a highlight in my evening at Great Neck North. It was so uplifting to talk to an administrator who valued bringing  jazz to our youth.  I could feel him absorb all of my words when I spoke passionately about the importance of   bringing jazz and the history of  jazz to the youth in our schools.  This evening brought me such hope for the future. I wish these youngsters all the best in their future endeavors as they will soon be entering college life.  I know they will do great things!

My visit with Mr. Joseph Rutkowski and the Tri-M Chapter at Great Neck North High School.

Speaking with these brilliant young musicians was truly a gift to me. Their understanding of  John Coltrane’s work and life was so impressive. Congratulations to  Great Neck North High School for having such brilliant minds in their high school. I want to send a special thank you to the President of this chapter, Matthew Shore, for working with Mr. Rutkowski to make  this evening possible for all involved.

The music of John Coltrane…bringing hope and joy to the world.  It was wonderful to hear these young musicans play such incredible music.  Thank you again for the invitation!!

I am thrilled to announce that I have been selected to co-facilitate the Arts/Music/Drama group on www.Edutopia.org. This is an innovative on-line publication created by George Lucas and his team at the George Lucas Educational Foundation. If you are a teacher looking for creative ideas that will bring life to your curriculum through  visual arts, music, drama, and dance or an experienced arts educator, please join our group.  Edutopia is a place where educators can come together to share what works in public education!

I enjoyed  meeting  UFT President Michael Mulgrew on Lobby Day in Albany, New York.  On March 9,  I went with other educators to talk to state legislators about how the budget affects the children.   Michael Mulgrew spoke passionately about  the importance of breaking the current deadlock in Albany. 1200 educators came to Albany on this day to stand tall for our kids.

District 26 Union Representative  Mary Vaccaro speaks seriously about budget concerns and ideas for the future.  Mary and I took the bus together from Queens, New York to Albany.  Along with other Queens educators, we had an  audience with State Senator Frank Padavan who shared his thoughts and listened intently to the concerns. I had an opportunity to speak to Senator Padavan about an idea to save  money by using talented  New York educators as consultants  instead of reaching out of the country for expertise. He seemed to value this idea, and perhaps will share these thoughts with his fellow legislators. Btw, I am also happy to report Senator Padavan is a fan of the Kids for Coltrane. He attended a Kids for Coltrane performance a couple of years ago, and had a great time  seeing  the children dance and sing. It was terrific  seeing him again.  We will certainly invite him to our next show on June 9th at the Holliswood School.

I first had the pleasure of meeting Jazz legend Sonny Simmons last year when he so graciously shared his time and talent with my Kids for Coltrane students at the Holliswood School. This month I had the sincere pleasure and great opportunity to interview Sonny over lunch in New York City. There I was sitting with Sonny Simmons and his band mate Michael Marcus, dining at a fine restaurant looking over Columbus Circle. I reflected on the journey that got me to this day… when a musician of Sonny’s caliber and incredible life story would honor me with an interview. I will be writing about our conversation…so check back to my blog again soon.~ Thanks Sonny, you are one of a kind…a real gem.

Summary of my presentation entitled The Other Side of Art and Music.

It was an honor to be one of many presenters at the 50th Greater Metropolitan New York Social Studies Conference. The conference offered many enlightening and thought-provoking workshops. Doris Kearns Goodwin was the recipient of the Hubert Humphrey Humanitarian Award.

Sharing with educators my experience visiting John Coltrane’s Huntington, Long Island home.

Talking to educators about the work Wynton Marsalis is doing raising the profile of jazz in America.

I had a wonderful uplifting day sharing my project with New York City educators. There was a blizzard on the way, but many educators found their way to the UFT building at 52 Broadway to attend this wonderful conference.  I had the opportunity to present my journey. I shared what I have learned from the folks at  Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Smithsonian Institute, the National Endowment for the Arts,  the Jazz Foundation of  America, the Metropolitan Museum of Art  and Harvard’s Project Zero. The focus of the discussion highlighted jazz as it unfolded in American history. We discussed the struggle for civil rights, the pluralistic character of American culture, arts and culture as a reflection of historical events, jazz as a metaphor for American identity, the effect of technology on American culture, and arts and music as a means of self-expression.

I want to send out a special thank you to Rozella Kirschgaessner, ATSS/UFT President/Chairperson for appreciating the significance of  this work.

Here is a clip of Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond discussing what she learned about education from high achieving schools throughout the world. This video is from Edutopia which was created by the innovative genius George Lucas. ~ Thank you Dr. Darling-Hammond and Mr. George Lucas for illuminating the way.