capture the magic mart's got a blog now.

rebelspiritmusic:

It’s so easy as artists to get caught up in the selfish aspect of the business.  Constant self-promoting, unavoidable praise and criticism, and the permanent wheel of creativity that spins in your head leaves little time for other outlets in your life.  Sometimes, it’s best to stop for a moment, and instead of working on your own project, dive into helping someone ELSE unlock THEIR creative spirit.

Such was the case yesterday, when some of NYC’s finest artists came together to host an event for the Liberty House, a Women-In-Need Residence (WIN) in Brooklyn.  Organized by Rebel Spirit’s Deena Goodman, the day consisted of an acting workshop provided by Miriam Ganz, and a songwriting workshop taught by Wes Hutchinson and Casey Shea.  Alyssa Montoya, a client services volunteer and event coordinator for WIN, created a lovely environment for both the children and volunteers to feel comfortable, welcome, and excited about the day.

Miriam got the day started with a few warm-ups for the kids to loosen up and grow comfortable with the instructors, using props, sounds and movement that erupted laughter out of the relatively shy group.  After everyone was actively participating, the children split into groups and performed some interesting improv scenes, although none were more unusual than Wes and Casey’s acting debut (yes, they did a scene as well, and yes, they were more excited than most of the children).

Next it was time for some songwriting, which began with a short performance of “The World Is Waking Up,” which had all the kids clapping and cheering for an encore at the end.  I found that moment to be a real testament to how powerful music can be, and the way it brings people of all ages, races, and genders together, singing and smiling.  It’s truly the universal language.

The kids were asked to offer a few different song ideas, and while most revolved around food- chicken wings and pork fried rice, or animals, one girl offered the idea “what if kids ruled the world”… and we all knew that was the one.  Lyrics were written, including two verses, a chorus, and a bridge, and Deena brought colored markers out for everyone to note the words on posterboard and sign it.  The result was a hit called “If Kids Ruled The World.”  After recording the final performance on Wes’ computer, we sat all the children down to hear it, and will be sending the files to the program director so each participant can have a copy.  Smiles were wide and bright and hugs were abundant at the end of the session, as even the most timid child seemed to walk out of the room with a little more bounce to their step.  It was incredibly heart-warming and inspiring to see how just a few hours made a huge difference to that group on such a cold, dreary day.  One girl ran up to her room and presented Deena with a set of song lyrics she had previously written, words that were beautifully constructed and deep with meaning for her young age.

Take a moment to check out some pictures and videos from the day.  For those of you working so hard on your careers, stressing out over the next big move to make, or simply struggling with a block in creativity, I highly suggest you seek out an organization like WIN to donate your time.  There are so many things in life we can’t control, and in frustrating moments it’s easy to forget how blessed we all are-  now is the time to remind yourself.  Give a little bit… the rewards are priceless.