A Well-Tempered Mind

From the Foreword by Maya Angelou Recognized or not, directly or obliquely, music is a major factor in the life of every human being. The ear is attuned to hearing melody from birth, whether the melody is that of the mother's lullaby or the tune of languages spoken. Spirits are increased by the gift of music.When a music maker belongs in a community and identifies with that community, the community is increased by the gift, the music maker is increased by the gift, and even the music...
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From the Foreword by Maya Angelou Recognized or not, directly or obliquely, music is a major factor in the life of every human being. The ear is attuned to hearing melody from birth, whether the melody is that of the mother's lullaby or the tune of languages spoken. Spirits are increased by the gift of music.When a music maker belongs in a community and identifies with that community, the community is increased by the gift, the music maker is increased by the gift, and even the music itself is increased. Maestro Peter Perret and Janet Fox here illumine the power of music to uplift and even transform lives. Perret and Fox are aware of the importance of music in the community and in the world.In this book, they prove the efficacy of music in education. Perret's success with third graders is so appealing that the most cynical disbeliever must be won over and then agree with John Adams's statement in a letter to Abigail Adams, 1780, "I must study politics and war that my son may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, navel architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study [many arts including] music."I pray the gift of this book, along with the gift of music, will herald the return of art in the classroom. The children need that and so does our world.--Maya Angelou