Ambassadors of Inspiration

by Stephen Beili

OK, so I’m supposed to be turning in stories from my roadtrip every few days, but I’m having such a great time meeting lovely people who made Playing For Change Day such a grassroots success that I haven’t had time to write.  Yesterday in Cabot, Vermont, I spent the afternoon with Brian Boyes, one of the public school teachers here who created a project for students throughout the state to participate in the Playing For Change movement.

Talented artist Zach, 16, is one of those students.  He chose to get involved by creating a drawing that was hung at his school’s all-day festival last weekend.  Zach’s idea was that ‘in the foreground was the main tree, but you don’t just see the one big tree; you see the little trees, and they catch your eye.  I wanted people to realize that the little things are important, too.’

Stephen Takes a Roadtrip to the Stars

by Shauna Murray

Seven months ago, Stephen Beili, 45, began a three-month stint volunteering at our program in Rwanda.  Upon his return to the U.S., we hired him as coordinator of Playing For Change Day, and for the last three months, he has been bringing together what we had in the works for this global event so that everyone could play music, spread the love, and raise funds to support our music programs for the coming year.

Spirit in the Room PART 3

by William Aura

Hari is exited to show us the progress on the new music rooms recently rented by the foundation. This will most certainly allow him the ability to expand his student base. With a great sense of pride he takes us upstairs to show us his new working space. Hari is profoundly grateful for this opportunity. He has previously been quite limited with what he can do in the cramped quarters that primarily serves as a drum-making studio and music shop. There are times where I can hardly find a place to stand. Expanding his space is opening his mind in a new and dramatic way. I can see the twinkle in his eye as he again expresses a deep gratitude to PFCF for this marvelous gift. We also make arrangements to order ten new instruments for his students. The melodica, also known as the ‘blow-organ’ or ‘key-flute’, is a free-reed instrument similar to a harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. These kids would never be able to afford one of these without our support. They will without a doubt be warmly received.