Students get the gift of music

Local students recently “faced the music” at a concert by world-renowned violinist Midori Goto.
“This was a wonderful experience for us,” said principal of P.S. 232 Lisa Josephson, who added the school was very honored to be joined by Midori.
Midori and pianist Jiayi Shi performed classical music from Cesar Franck, Claude Debussy, Johann Sebastian Bach and Beethoven.
Midori did not only perform for the students, she also taught the third and fourth grade students about the violin’s parts and sounds, the piano’s pedals, music notes and themes and expression. The students, many of whom said they played an instrument, eagerly answered questions and shared how the music made them feel.
One class drew pictures depicting what they saw and how they felt when listening to Midori’s music and presented them to her after the concert.
Councilmember Eric Ulrich attended the event and said he admired the “magnificent performance.”
“This is a great lesson for us,” said Ulrich. “Music is a great way to inspire.”
He told the children that sharing the talents with which they are blessed with the rest of the world is their duty so they can “enrich the lives of those around [them].”
Midori debuted with the New York Philharmonic nearly 30 years ago at the age of 11, barely older than the children she played for at P.S. 232. Since then she has received numerous awards and was named a messenger of peace by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2007.
She founded the non-profit organization Midori & Friends in 1992 to bring music education to thousands of underprivileged children in New York City each year.
“I want to share the joys of music with children,” Midori said.
The Howard Beach school has been part of the Midori & Friends partnership for seven years. This was the second time Midori has played at the school. She first put on a concert for students there in 2005.
Thirteen schools in Queens are part of Midori & Friends, as well as 31 others in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan. For more information, visit www.midoriandfriends.org.