Artwork Copyright © 2009 MusoMagic.com
Well… it’s official. I’m completely exhausted… but in a totally contented “happy to be alive” kind of way.
Place 54 over-excited kids [and a pool noodle didgeridoo!]… a couple of brilliant muso’s… an extraordinary cameraman… an incredible jazz soloist… and a bunch of total strangers under the same roof for two solid days and what do you get?
One awesome song… and a totally unreal film clip!
[Not to mention however many "changed lives" because of it... and a couple dozen more friends for life!]
In fact I’ll describe it to you the way I described it to my own kids this morning by email:
“This is probably one of the best, most inspiring things I have ever done.
These kids all face challenging circumstances in one way or another.
They arrived with their heads down…. but left with their hearts up.
And they took all of us along with them.
Their growth as people was phenomenal…”
The song you are about to hear did not exist just three days ago.
The music and lyrics were brainstormed by a bunch of totally great kids between the (approximate) ages of 12 and 17 who were brought together under the one roof for the very first time on Tuesday morning.
By late Wednesday… with every voice captured and recorded… editing complete and the film clip produced… the song they made from scratch was a “wrap” and had already received radio airplay and a spot on the 6 pm television news!
Even the Channel 7 news crew who arrived late on Wednesday to film the news clip couldn’t resist being swept up in the enthusiasm and excitement of the production.
Take a look here and you’ll see why.
MusoMagic was created by ARIA award-winning singer Adam Thompson (Chocolate Starfish). His workshops offer a unique opportunity for people to explore creative expression and group synergy through songwriting and music production.
Here are a bunch of people… whose enviable task in life it is… to motivate and profoundly change outcomes for people from all walks of life. From regional Australia… to the Corporate Jungle… to the real jungles of India and beyond.
Adam and Glenn (Goatman for short – sorry Glenn! grin) have only just returned from working their Muso magic with the street kids of Mumbai.
CD cover art [a fun example for the kids]
CD cover art [a fun example for the kids]
NB. sorry guys… you’re both way better looking in real life! [Grin]
It’s true that lives can be changed… and improved beyond recognition… through the building of a song [together] and seeing it through as a team to an incredible end product. Such a great gift. The gift of music and song.
MusoMagic came to my attention almost serendipitously. They say that just when you need something most… it will simply turn up in your life.
This was one of those things.
In an extraordinary twist… the words that fell out in the lyrics could have been a metaphor for my life over the past year! Spooky. Just goes to show that life’s challenges and uncertainties are a universal theme for human beings everywhere.
I was incredibly lucky to be able to help out (even if only in my own small way) at this recent workshop.
It was fabulous!
Would love your thoughts on the film clip… and of course the song!
Watch out for the little bloke playing the pool noodle as a Didgeridoo…
where there’s a will there’s a way!
Cover Artwork Copyright © 2009 MusoMagic
Whaddayareckon?
Cool eh?
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
WOW!!!! What an awesome project! The song and video were just tops! You find the best projects to be involved in Jean!
I’m on the run this morning, Jean, and don’t have time to read this post, let alone comment. But a first glimpse has me looking forward to spending some time with it. Just lovely!
Better than cool, Jean, it’s AWESOME! I was deeply moved, both by the concept of the workshop and the joy of the execution.
This is brilliant! I do believe in Serendipity! Love what you said about the right things turning up for us when we most need them. I always enjoy your blogs, Jean.
John… it was awesome… totally. For me though… a baptism of fire… had no idea what I was doing and blithered around quite a bit trying to figure out how to help. But the music made it all worthwhile.
I’ve decided that music is what’s missing from what I do creatively. Visual art seems somehow deaf and mute without it.
Yes Vernita… serendipity. Or fate.
As the lyrics go “did you ever wonder how we got here?” Well frankly… yes I did. And I still do. I have no idea why I decided to get in the car last Monday and drive four hours to a workshop I understood little about… but somehow KNEW I just had to be there.
I hope this is just the beginning of a new adventure. And if it’s not… and this is all that comes of it… then at least I can chalk it up to experience and know that I have grown from it. Remaining open to whatever comes.
Now this makes my heart sore. There are some truly spectacular people out there – changing the world, one smile at a time. I have no doubt that your energy and enthusiasm was another beautiful piece of the puzzle Jean. Very inspirations stuff. If you get a chance check out StarJam.org – but have a box of tissues handy – actually click on this link if you can – http://www.starjam.org/video-all-about-starjam/. In fact I will post it on my blog. I have become an ambassador for this group. Take care. Lots of love – Andrew
AG… how do you do it all?
StarJam looks wonderful. It’s gratifying to know that there are people out there working everyday miracles for people who can’t do for themselves. Knowing this kind of softens the hard edges don’t you think? I’m tired of hard edges. Some days there’s just too many of them. Involvement like this keeps the focus outward and the ‘artbeat going. That’s what I’m trying to do. x
Incredibly… still have the buzz going almost a week later! LOL Thoughts turn to my old guitar still sitting in storage after all these months. Must get out there and see if I can find it… I’ve got a strong yen to make some noise! (((chuckles)))
Jean, it was great catching up with you again today. Now I understand where you have been, instead of baby sitting me
)
This project had me totally in awe what was achieved in this short space of time. The lyrics and music are fabulous and all the kids looked like they had a blast. What a wonderful project to be involved in.
Very Cool!!
Happy Summer to you down under
Hey Ingrid! So glad you liked it. And thanks for dropping by to take a look. MusoMagic was such great fun to be involved in. As you can see.
It was great catching up with you all yesterday. Love spending time with paint spattered friends! Just checked out your Flickr site. Wow… your photography is nothing short of phenomenal. You’re creating quite a stir over there. Go you!
Hi Mary… so pleased you enjoyed it. The best thing is to be able to share my excitement about this here on the Blog. It really was an extraordinary experience and as it’s the season for it… I’m just so grateful to have been given the opportunity to be involved.
Yes summer is upon us down here… thanks for your good wishes!
Hi Jean,
What a fantastic project. Excellent! It must have been such an uplifting experience for all of those involved in it. Loved the music clip and the wonderful collaboration. A great thing to be involved in – lucky you. Ty
Thanks Ty
I’ve been finding lately the harder I work the luckier I get. But yes… I am lucky. I know what makes me happy… and I try very hard to do that thing.
I think too they were rather lucky to have me as well. Each of the four volunteers brought their own particular brand of expertise… verve and personality to the production. I have a sneaking suspicion this is how such a magical outcome was realised at this particular time in this particular place. There was not one person left unchanged by the event. It was awesome… in the truest most sincere form of the word!