In a Safe Place, the Creative Spirit is Freed

I'm working via SKYPE with students in the Cakike Music Program in Bogota, Colombia.

Over the past six weeks, the students have been sharing with me stories of their lives, of their greatest happiness, playing little songs that they're learning on guitar, piano, xylophone. I'm helping them connect to themselves--to their source of identity, strength and confidence--to that which nothing in their often difficult lives can touch.

For each child, I'm improvising a special piece inspired by his or her life and story. This morning's session with a class of young students exceeded my expectations. Two boys--brothers--entered into a spontaneous duet on xylophones, each taking turns improvising as the other accompanied. They used what they had learned to take a leap and begin to create their own music. The respect they extended to the other made this possible. That respect and care allowed the space for something new to happen. The Cakike teacher, Paola Medina and I were deeply moved to witness this! In that safe place, the spirit inside of us can ignite and come forth in such beautiful ways! This morning was an inspiring example!

More to come...