Hello friends & family!
Please donate to Musequality! I will be participating in Musequality's World Busk this Sunday 14th of June.
Musequality, a brand new charity, was set up to take music projects to some of the poorest children in the developing world.
Our aim is not to produce professional musicians but to give vulnerable children the chance to learn skills that offer them a route out of poverty, lifting them off the streets and away from the risks of drug culture, violence and crime.
Why music?
Four reasons.
First there is a large and consistent body of evidence showing that children who receive regular music instruction improve more quickly – across a wide range of skills – than those receiving no music lessons. Music, as well as being a cost effective means of delivering educational benefit, offers children the chance to develop good social skills. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Venezuela where El Sistema offers every willing child the chance to learn a musical instrument.
Secondly, musical ability cannot be bought, borrowed, stolen or faked. It can only be acquired by putting in time and effort - resources which everyone has in equal measure whether rich or poor.
Thirdly, around the world, in most cultures, music is at the heart of the community, bringing people of all ages together, giving them pleasure, enjoyment and a sense of belonging. Performing together means individuals learn not only their own parts but also to listen to others; they must be both independent and interdependent. These skills are needed in every aspect of life; gaining them is hugely rewarding, personally, intellectually and emotionally – and they can have a dramatic effect on children’s lives.
Finally, it is important to give choice. Other charities take sports projects, for example, to underprivileged children. But sport does not appeal to everyone – in the same way that music does not appeal to everyone. If we in the developed world are to help a larger number of children, we need to provide a choice so that as many children as possible can be inspired and encouraged to reach for a better future.
