Using Music To Break Our Isolation

Music plays a very important role in developing a child's brain and overall personality. This week we'd like to share reflections from two young musicians who have dedicated their lives to the work of making Indian Classical Music and other Art forms more accessible to children and the masses. The focus is not to create more "performers" but is more about widening our lives and using music as a tool to break our isolation, to become whole again. [Read More]

Title: Legend Of The Flute Player
By: Noel Parent (Author), Marina Minina (Illustrator)
For: Children and Young Adults

In the Valley of the Great Mountains, where all the best musicians live and play music together, a young boy named Avvaiyar dreams of also playing music. But unfortunately, he does not have an instrument to play. One day while in the woods he hears a sound and finds a broken stick with holes. This gives him an idea and he creates his own new instrument - a flute.

Excited by his new instrument, Avvaiyar goes to the village square and begins to play - only to be ridiculed and rejected by the other musicians and people of the village. He then begins a long journey to discover the most beautiful music. As he explores the magical sounds of nature and silence, Avvaiyar grows within himself and inspires the people of his village through his music.

The story, along with the evocative illustrations, reveals a world of mystical, magical beauty, while also inspiring us to look deeper into our hearts for our own music.

You can watch a video of the author reading the book when it was launched.

Sing/play a song (or a poem, quote, verse...) close to your heart that inspires you. Sometimes all we need to do to uplift ourselves and those around us is to "sing our song."