The DVD for this documentary was included in my purchase of the DVD of the movie, "Music of the Heart" starring Meryl Streep. Violinists have always been part of my life, my dad was a violin maker and a Cajun fiddler in S. Louisiana back in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.
Roberta Guaspari is the teacher who made all this possible when she needed a job and had 50 violins. In spite of resistance from both the school and some of the parents, and to much doubt that these kids could be interested, she established the inner city program in a tough area of Harlem. As they say, 'the rest is history.'
Near the end of the Streep movie is re-created the benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. This documentary has the actual footage of the real concert. As a musician myself, and having played since I was about 10, I can hardly imagine the poise of these small school children, standing next to great violinists like Arnold Steinhard, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, and other great violinists as they played the concert. Every time I watch it I get a lump in my throat. It is perhaps the best demonstration of the idea that there is no limit to what kids can accomplish if they don't know limitations.
Roberta Guaspari is the teacher who made all this possible when she needed a job and had 50 violins. In spite of resistance from both the school and some of the parents, and to much doubt that these kids could be interested, she established the inner city program in a tough area of Harlem. As they say, 'the rest is history.'
Near the end of the Streep movie is re-created the benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. This documentary has the actual footage of the real concert. As a musician myself, and having played since I was about 10, I can hardly imagine the poise of these small school children, standing next to great violinists like Arnold Steinhard, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, and other great violinists as they played the concert. Every time I watch it I get a lump in my throat. It is perhaps the best demonstration of the idea that there is no limit to what kids can accomplish if they don't know limitations.