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! :)