Scenes at singing from last year’s concert

Scenes at singing from last year’s concert

A song in your heart

Pfiul Reisler travels the country these days putting

on his Kid Pan Alley workshops. Paul sits

with school age children and together they create wonderful things. The results are that thousands of songs have been written by thousands of kids. Their lyrics grace the contents of several CDs. When the kids sing their songs, they are backed by Reislers Kid Pan Alley Band which is made up of nationally and internationally recognized musicians. It’s hard not to feel inspired and invigorated when you hear the music »nd see the smiling faces of these young people. They are seeing and hearing the fruits of their creativity It's a stunning process to witness.

Creativity in our children is needed more than ever these days. With so much teaching to the test and cuts made to arts programs across the country, it is refreshing to see that Reisler and his crew of merry music makers is having great success. In Charlottesville in Albermarle County 16 elementary schools have booked 40 weeks of Reislers magic for next year.

Reisler has come back to his roots in Rappahannock and for the third straight year, students in Rappahannock, due in targe part to support from groups like Headwaters, the Rappahannock Association for the Arts and Community, and the Virginia C ommission for the Arts, have been busy making music. «

They’ve got a concert coming up on May 2 at 7 pm at the elementary school. Hopefully, you'll be able to hear them for yourself

What Reisler is doing and what many in this county are trying to do is forge partnerships that result in success. Educating children, seeing them succeed and hearing them sing is affirmation that they have our support.

It s not just recognizing the beauty in them but the beauty in us as their advocates.