Saving the Music, Anderson & Roe Style

It's Liz here, back from my blogging break. Greg and I had a marvelous time yesterday playing for elementary school students in Queens. Just to give a bit of background, I am a teaching artist fellow of The Academy - A Program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and The Weill Music Institute, and as part of this exciting program I teach music at The Abigail Adams School, PS 131Q. For a special end-of-the-year presentation, I decided to bring my trusty companion Greg along, and we performed in two consecutive assemblies for kids in grades K-5. The auditorium was set up with a baby grand piano and the upright from the music room so we had the option of playing some two-piano music in addition to our four-hand fare.

Some especially memorable moments: the students responding to my greeting with a collective chorus of "Good morning, Miss Roe!"; the crowd getting really excited when Assistant Principal Frank Headley announced that Greg and I attended a Harry Potter movie premiere and met the stars; the kids clamoring to guess which animals were being represented in our Carnival of the Animals finale; the effectively rattling sounds of the Danse macabre on the rickety pianos; the eager applause that erupted while we were still playing; the question-and-answer session at the end of each assembly; Mr. Headley's inspiring wrap-up comments on the school's motto of "excellence for everyone." On a personal note, I have had such an enriching and enjoyable experience teaching at this school, and Greg and I always love working with young people. If only as adults we can maintain that level of openness, curiosity and wonder.

Community Service Recitals in NYC (2004-05)

Through Juilliard’s Community Service Fellowship
program, we have had the chance to spread our
love of music throughout the community. This
past semester, we have had numerous
eye-opening and gratifying encounters with
people in nursing homes, hospitals, psychiatric health facilities, and homeless shelters. To witness the bright
smiles on the faces of patients with AIDS and cancer was moving beyond description. We played—and sang!—our hearts out, and they responded with tremendous enthusiasm.

Certain moments will be forever etched in our memories: the crowd at the Housing Works Day Treatment facility belting out and clapping along with unassailable gusto to our rendition of Beatles songs; the residents at the Jewish Guild for the Blind pronouncing our performance to be the best concert they’ve ever had; the endearing children at the New York Foundling Skilled Nursing Facility (including the unforgettable Wilbur [a.k.a.“Superpower”], Chi-chi, Jerome, and Josh) laughing and singing along to our Christmas carols, Disney favorites, and improvisational stories; and countless more wonderful experiences. Whether we displayed impressive feats on the keyboard with our “Blue Danube Fantasy” or sang simple duets of old-fashioned tunes, our audiences gave us the gift of pure enjoyment. Each interaction reminded us how empowering and uplifting music can be when it is shared.