Juneau Music Matters

Subject: Juneau Music Matters
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 11:43 AM

This is so cool. I first knew Lorrie as a piano player/school teacher/girlfriend of my co-worker. She has gone on to some great things.

I guess the headline says it all: Unique music program spreads to Juneau starting with paper violins

So far as I know, at this point it is available in only one school in Juneau but it is a start.

Paper Violins

Subject: RE: Juneau Music Matters
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 12:19 PM

Venezuela is really on to something with this system. it's been around for quite a while, and definitely seems to work . I think the Los Angeles SO's bravura stick, Gustavo Dudemal, may be a product of El Sisterna, among others. Anyway, it's good to see you Alaskans (along with people in many other coutries including the UK) ready to learn from those pinkos from down below the Lower 48. I see there is some Chinese encouragment for the Juneau project too.

Is the Juneau population particularly diverse, Ebbie, as someone in the article suggested? And would the diversity be ethnic or economic? Maybe there are still some Russian influences in that part of the world?

Subject: RE: Juneau Music Matters
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 12:21 PM

I know it does.

Subject: RE: Juneau Music Matters
From: Bobert
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 12:38 PM

What next??? Paper geetars???

Nevermind...

Sounds like a great program...

B~

Subject: RE: Juneau Music Matters
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 01:03 PM

The population in Juneau, Peter K, is quite diverse. Not only do we have the standard issue whites, we are heavily influenced by the native Alaskan culture which has been here for thousands of years. Their symbols of music and art are everywhere and their languages are taught in our schools. They comprise about 16% of our population, I understand.

The influence of their culture manifests itself in numerous ways. One time at a bus stop, two young Native men, both the worse for wear, were being unpleasant to me, jabbing at me with words, emboldening each other.

I had an inspiration and said, mildly, One of the things I admire about the Tlingit culture is their their respect for the elderly.

You should have seen the change. They practically fell over each other to be nice to me. :)

We also have a large community of Filipinos. They've been here almost as long as the white man, since the early 1880s.

And then we draw from all areas of the world, maybe because of the mystique of "Alaska". I personally know Norwegians, Swedes, Africans, Haitians and yes, Russians. The Russian culture, along with family names that date back to before Juneau, the town, was formed, is strong here. Most of the Native Alaskans are affiliated with the Russian Orthodox church. They helped build the church, the oldest original one in southeast Alaska, in 1894.

Subject: RE: Juneau Music Matters
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 10:53 AM

Thanks Ebbie.