Seeds for the Arts Stories

2017-07-22

Seeds Continue to Bloom
By:  Aaron Matthews, student of Seeds for the Arts, 2007-2012

Have you ever been so eager to do something, but had no idea how you’d go about in doing it? I had always wanted to play guitar growing up, but never had the opportunity to do so until I joined Seeds for the Arts. At Seeds, I was surrounded by opportunity. I had my chance to shine, and took it.

  I took professional guitar and piano lessons with a focus in jazz and classical music, driven by the opportunity to perform at nearby venues. Each lesson was valued and structured on repetition and dedication; which is the recipe for success in anything one does. The program issued me a guitar and a keyboard that I could bring home and practice with. Having an instrument is like granting someone a portal to anywhere they’d like to go; it is a wonderful sense of freedom.

  I had the opportunity to perform twice at the Red House, once at the St. Lucy’s caberet, as well as other events we created at St. Lucy’s, a restaurant named Sparky’s and for an
On-Point for College event. Once you perform as a young adult, the memory strengthens you and gives you confidence. It’s a good feeling to perform in your community and share the gift of music to others.

  Emily Frank, the founder of Seeds for the Arts, has a passion for music and played a vital role in feeding that strong musical flame within me. Everyone in the community benefits from the presence of music, and Seeds for the Arts is a vehicle for that gift. The most universal language in the world is music, and I’m grateful for the knowledge of that language. I occasionally play at St. Lucy’s to this day and that’s what a community is about. I give back by being a member of the fund development Committee for the Brady Faith Center in order to keep programs like this going for others who may follow me.

This program was a stepping stone in the betterment of myself as a person, and continues to impact other students and members of the community as well.

My Seeds for the Arts Story
by  Lucy, mother of Vicki, student of Seeds for the Arts

I was looking for guitar lessons for my daughter Victoria since she was 8 years old but unfortunately the cost was beyond our reach. I feel that music is one of the best gifts that we adults can give to our children.  It is like giving them the gift of wings.  Music can comfort them when they are down, give them confidence that they can bring joy and creativity into the world, and give them a tool to speak words of wisdom to themselves and others.  I want to say thank you to Emily and Jason for these lessons.  I love to watch as my daughter and Chris and Alexandria enjoy their lessons.