June 21st is designated “International Make Music Day” so as part of Appleton’s Art on the Town community event series – they dedicated a full day of local events, seminars and performances spanning all of College Ave.
I had the great pleasure to spend the day on The Ave. attending seminars on percussion and ‘tromboning’, ‘kazooing’, listening to community bands, singer/songwriters, members of the Fox Valley Symphony and more ply their craft.
I especially enjoyed participating and observing the interaction and education coming from Sara Devine and her organization Expressive Therapies. Her music mission is (from the website) empowering individuals—those living with social, cognitive, emotional, physical and/or spiritual needs—through music, art and mental health therapies to improve health & well-being. Seeing how music in its varied forms reaches any and all people and seeing them react to it in the most positive ways was simply magical.
And on Make Music Day 2019 in downtown Appleton, for once the magic wasn’t coming from Houdini, it was in the air for anyone and everyone to experience together.
As the late Tom Petty once said,“Music is probably the only real magic I have encountered in my life. There’s not some trick involved with it. It’s pure and it’s real. It moves, it heals, it communicates and does all these incredible things.”
Just feeling the city pulse with all the varied rhythms, beats and sounds to and through its citizens is truly the best music of all.
Next up ART ON THE TOWN (Sidewalk) Chalk on the Town – FRIDAY, JULY 19th – hosted by KISS FM’s Heather Storm. CLICK HERE to register as a Chalk Artist.
Kudos to my co-worker, the talented Bryon Schema, for the stellar video production.
