Stories, Feedback, and Testimonies
The following are a number of stories, feedback, and testomonies to how the arts have impacted recipients, audiences and artists themselves at workshops, presentations and performances to different ages and locations.
It’s an obvious complete transformation for some when we start the drumming. At first it was just friends about the same age but now young and old alike gather and connect with the beats. It’s so beautiful to watch and feel the difference in the mood at the end of the hour, Its an undeniable difference that those beats make raising the vibration in the room by the end of our time together. – AWP artist Liz
I don’t know why but whenever I play my music I just feel better. I can be in the worse mood but when I get to pull out my violin I get lost in the sound and forget, if only for awhile, the reason I was so mad or sad. I might bever be a pro but I’ll always know I have my music on a hard day. – Ray age 18
These activities are fantastic and just what we need to share with the Foster families to try at home. The arts come through to connect new families once again. Thanks for the ideas! – Nick Dept of Child Services
Dear Arts with a Purpose,
As you are aware my life has taken a spiral turn downward over the past few years and I had to sell my bass due to financial woes. It’s from the bottom of my heart that I thank you so very much for providing me with another instrument. The very possibility of owning a bass again seemed like a lost dream until Arts with a Purpose stepped in. Playing music is such a large part of my life, it’s both therapeutic and cathartic, and your donation will allow me to earn a living again as well as enjoy my passion. I can never thank Arts with a Purpose enough for your generosity and desire to give to the community.
With everlasting appreciation,
Joe
A full-time caregiver to her mother she had played for years for fun and even professionally until she had no choice but to pawn her precious instrument that had even been signed by a couple of national players! She will once again know the healing power of music in her life!
Yesterday was amazing! Students that I never thought would participate, DID and it was so wonderful! – 5th grade
Never have I seen him respond to anything like this. His non verbal autism always prohibits him from really being a part of the group but the music and movement is the way he can be involved and accepted! I’ll never forget this day! – Cory’s Mom
I don’t know if you remember me. I am K****** **********’s mom. Unfortunately, she relapsed and we are back at Simon cancer center. I just wanted to let you know how much you helped me deal with my nightmare. You helped distract me from my darkness. What you do matters, please remember that. – Ronald McDonald house Mother
This absolutely made my day!!!! Love, Love, Love entertaining and singing with these folks! Arts With A Purpose!!! – AWP artist Sheila Walters Herring
So I have to say I never know what to expect on these Adult Day Care shows but it always makes me remember why I started playing in the first place! – AWP artists Darren Vincent, profesional pianist
I am giving you a HUGE virtual hug right now. You have been an inspiration to me from the moment I met you. You taught me to not be afraid to be myself—no matter how “different” or unusual myself happened to be. You taught me how to better love everyone around me. You believed in me when sometimes I didn’t believe in myself. You may not KNOW you did these things but you DID and for that I shall forever be grateful. I am crying now….Thank you for the gift of being YOURSELF because in being yourself you helped me to know MYSELF better.
They get patted down on the way in.
Nobody over 18 and all wearing their best defensive mask coming into the room not knowing what to expect.
I risk peeking every so often just to see if they are watching me while I play my original music (they’ve never heard) on my iridescent seven-string electric violin (they’ve never seen).
We go through the schpiel of how it works, how the acoustic violin works with a little science and history on the side. Then we talk business. We discuss entrepreneurship and self-reliance and how the process of a self-managed full-time musician can be applied to all entrepreneurial possibilities available to anyone with the imagination to see a vision and to seek out resources.
Then…
I pass out the violins.
One each for each one
to try as a group. Nobody able to do it, equally challenged in front of one another
all of a sudden…
Laughter, Vulnerability and
DISTRACTION!
Now a much lighter vibe
we are looking at each other directly in the eyes having a reciprocal conversation with all barriers broken.
Then,
violins are put away.
They line up.
They get patted down
and walk wearing a new mask.