Bau’s Blaug
The latest news from “the Big Cheese” – Executive Director Bau Graves.
All Time High
In the midst of the great recession of 2009, Old Town School of Folk Music is setting records for class registration. During hard times, people find solace and support in their extended community. Old Town School provides a social context that allows communities to express themselves – playing music and singing together is good for you. “When you sing with a group of people, you learn how to subsume yourself into a group consciousness,” says Brian Eno. “Singing is all about the immersion of the self into the community. That’s one of the great feelings — to stop being me for a little while and to become us.”
Old Town School is an incubator of such sentiments, as current statistics attest. For the eight-week session of classes that began on March 1, the School has taken in 7,233 registrations, an all-time record. This success is attributable to the dedication and talent of the 230 teaching artists whose work is at the heart of the Old Town School experience. Every day, seven days a week, they facilitate the face-to-face encounter that transforms a roomful of private individuals into a cohesive aesthetic force – and that is an act of magic.
Attendance at performances is strong, too. The 38 concerts produced so far in 2009 have been well-attended and enthusiastically-received. That includes artists from ten different countries, kids’ shows, rock, jazz, blues, country, Cajun, and lots more – and doesn’t even take into account several hundred student performances and field trips.
As Director of Old Town School, I am required to be concerned about the impact that the global economic crisis may have on our School and community. Yesterday’s assumptions will probably not hold water tomorrow. But it is exceedingly gratifying to see that, especially in troubled times, the services that we provide are clearly valued so highly by so many. Through the continued support and avid participation of this community, Old Town School of Folk Music will not simply survive, it will thrive.
Filed under: Uncategorized by Bau | March 13, 2009 | Comments (0)
