Music Genres!

I'm going to do a lot of posts on music. What music means, what it means to different people/cultures, and just all the different types of music in the world! But here's the catch, it is going to be from you. So basically if anyone who reads this sends me something, (through facebook or email) that's what I will put as my post. So it should say what kind of music you like, why you like it, who sings that kind of music, and a little something about it. Hopefully that makes some sense because I would love to have YOUR input on this! By the way if you would like it to be anonymous, just let me know! Hope to hear from ya! :)

Via Delorosa by Leeland

He traded his crown for a crown of thorns

He picked up his cross and laid down his sword

He stumbled down the road, bruised and beaten for me

Jesus walked the way of grief, Hallelujah

On the Via Delorosa

All my sin was carried away

All the power of hell was broken

As he gave his life away

He knew it was to come from the very start

But His love for all the world beat inside His heart

He climbed the road of suffering to the hill of Calvary

Where the saints would be redeemed, Hallelujah

On the Via Delorosa

All my sin was carried away

All the power of hell was broken

As he gave his life away

Jesus fixed His eyes upon the new horizon

Soon He would arise and the world would be forgiven

Jesus fixed His eyes upon the new horizon

Soon He would arise and the world would be forgiven

Hallelujah, Jesus rose again

On the cross He shed His blood on Calvary

I'm thankful for the journey of my King

On the Via Delorosa

All my sin was carried away

All the power of hell was broken

As he gave his life away, oh

As He gave His life away

He traded His crown for a crown of thorns

The Sugar Strings!

Just a few minutes ago I watched a program on NBC where a group of three girls who were all cousins played together. They call themselves the Sugar Strings! Adai (13) plays the violin, Mirya (12) plays the viola, and Ayano (18) plays the cello. These girls have got to visit a library in Chicago to play classical music for a local elementary school. The audience was probably filled of third or forth graders. For many of them this was a rare event. The program stated that fewer than half of the schools in this nations population receive a musical education. Mrs Lucinda Ali-Landing, from the Hyde Park Suzuki Institute, says about music, "Music is important for brain development, social development, it makes them happy, it makes the family more peaceful." One of the children even states that "the music is soothing." They try to perform music that children at that age would enjoy and of course what they enjoy to play. They played well-known music of Michael Jackson's. Another student said after the performance that he "really enjoyed it, I thought it was really good, and really catchy." Even another student says enthusiastically, "I never seen anyone play one of those (cello) before, only on TVs when they're jamming. I don't think I can pick that up." The Sugar Strings are confident that by performing for all these children at such a young age would encourage them to pick up an instrument. Ayano, the eighteen-year-old cello player is astonished that one of the children who say the music she played was "soothing". What these girls basically did was transform the way young children think of music. It gave them a different perspective on music and how it should be viewed. 
When I saw this story I was really touched because of someone like me who even plays the violin, I would hate to see the education of something as important as music to be cut out of public schools. I love playing the violin! It has taught me so much about not just music, but myself! It really showed me what I am capable of! I found out that I could play an instrument that I never thought I would pick up in the first place! So even if you are not someone who is involved in music, maybe you still do something to help! :)

I Stand by Idina Menzel

"I Stand"

When you ask me, who I am:
What is my vision? And do I have a plan?
Where is my strength? Have I nothing to say?
I hear the words in my head, but I push them away.

'Cause I stand for the power to change,
I live for the perfect day.
I love till it hurts like crazy,
I hope for a hero to save me.
I stand for the strange and lonely,
I believe there's a better place.
I don't know if the sky is heaven,
But I pray anyway.

And I don't know
What tomorrow brings
The road less traveled 
Will it set us free?
Cause we are taking it slow,
These tiny legacies.
I don't try and change the world;
But what will you make of me?

'Cause I stand for the power to change,
I live for the perfect day.
I love till it hurts like crazy,
I hope for a hero to save me.
I stand for the strange and lonely,
I believe there's a better place.
I don't know if the sky is heaven,
But I pray anyway.

With the slightest of breezes
We fall just like leaves
As the rain washes us from the ground
We forget who we are
We can't see in the dark
And we quickly get lost in the crowd

'Cause I stand for the power to change,
I live for the perfect day.
I love till it hurts like crazy,
I hope for a hero to save me.
'Cause I stand for the power to change,
I live for the perfect day.
I love till it hurts like crazy,
I hope for a hero to save me.
I stand for the strange and lonely,
I believe there's a better place.
I don't know if the sky is heaven,
But I pray anyway.

Friendship!

"Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget." Friendship can mean so much to someone. It is good to find those great friends that you can see yourself with in 20 years or so. Those friends that when you are around each other, you're always smiling and laughing. I always feel like I have to try so hard to be a great friend, to show that I really do care about them. Someone said to me today, "You are the best friend that anyone could ask for." That may seem so small and something you would say to any friend of yours but when this person said it to me it not only changed how I feel towards this person but even my long time friends. If someone took the time to say those simple words to me then I would really know they're a one of a kind friend! People think of the word friendship as such a cliche. I don't even think some people take it seriously sometimes. A good friendship can mean the world to someone. If you show them that you really don't care, you can hurt them. So I guess that I would challenge whoever is reading this to really be loyal and faithful to those friends you have now. Remember how much they mean to you and what they have done for you. Remember what time they may have sacrificed for you. And just keep in mind the great people in your life before they are gone...