Jerry Lee Hosts Playing for Change Day Event

While reading a story this morning on how music therapy can help people cope with issues ranging from everyday challenges like stress to diseases like Alzheimer’s, I realized that September is the month for the annual global FPC Event (Playing for Change Day events).

I have been an admiring supporter of the Playing for Change movement since its early days in 2005 when Roger Ridley aka Big Man played the streets of Santa Monica, California, when he was filmed by a group of young local filmmakers, who had embraced the dream to create a film rooted in “music in the streets”.

With a mobile recording studio they went around he world and added musicians in the places they live(d) to Roger’s “Stand by me” performance. The sound and footage were mixed and edited, and although none of the musicians had ever been in the same room -or even in the same country or continent – they were unified through music, each contributing their own flavor and talent to the song.

This video Stand by Me and its underpinning message, turned into a global sensation with a quick 60 million youTube hits and by 2007, just 10 years ago, The Playing for Change Foundation was established as a non-profit with the mission to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. Now ten years later, they have already created 15 schools in Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, Mali, Nepal, Rwanda, South Africa, Morocco, Mexico, Argentina and Thailand, where 1,200 young students attend free classes in music and dance every day.

The decision to completely localize their presence, Playing for Change has become one with the communities where they have music programs established. Using local materials and labor only, employing local teachers and school staff has created the basis to sustainably continue in many other countries around the globe. Annual program evaluations since, have strongly reinforced the real and positive impact of music education and demonstrate change in action, something I’ve witnessed profoundly in all my years traveling the world. When children play music together, collaboration increases and conflict is reduced. And critically important to children, particularly those who are vulnerable due to poverty, conflict, drugs, and neglect, is that learning music increases self-esteem and fosters resilience and joy, rather than resentment and anger.
As one of the students in Nepal stated, “Music is an indispensable part of life -‐ you cannot live without music.” I couldn’t agree more.

On Saturday September 23 we will host an annual PFC day during our weekly jam room sessions, together with hundreds of other venues around the nation and the globe.

Last year Playing For Change Day resulted in over 200+ events in 48 countries on 6 continents, raising funds to provide instruments, music instruction, and inspiration for kids and youth – all thanks to dedicated music loving individuals. To learn more about the work of the PFC Foundation, visit http://www.playingforchange.org and check out the hundreds of magnificent Songs Around The World videos on their youTube channel.

Cotton Fields