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Essentials in
Board
Board Minutes January 2004 - Exhibit 1
Keynote Address by Joe Liles explains why we need to Keep The Whole World Singing
Updated: 3/5/2004 1:02:00 PM
When Rob Hopkins asked me to give the keynote address at this convention I was thrilled at the opportunity to speak to you about how singing makes us more human, more alive, more sensitive . . . And how it has the power to transform, inspire, console, refresh and lift us to new heights.
To prepare for this moment, I read seven books covering a broad range of disciplines. All expounded the importance of music, especially in human beings. I discovered what we all instinctively know: listening to music, studying music and performing music enhances ability to learn. It has a positive affect in treating mental and physical illness. I’m telling you, I had some very emotional moments as I related what I read to my own personal experience. Most of you know me, though . . . I get tears at the sound of a Bb on a pitch-pipe . . . Or a good pun, but it’s gotta be exceptional!!
Plato said: “musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the secret places of the soul.” He also said: “music is moral law. It gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, and a gaiety and life to everything. It is the essence of order and leads to all that is good, true and beautiful.” Thomas Jefferson said: “music . . . The favorite passion of my soul.”
I truly believe that when we make music we inhale the sound through our ears and it flows throughout our body as does oxygen when we breathe in air. Think of the body, with it’s nerves and heartstrings as the harp upon which your life plays. Singing stimulates our life force on the deepest levels.
Since I have only a few minutes here with you, I’ve decided not to spend precious time quoting statistics and reams of information. Trust me. We could hold a week-long seminar and not begin to cover the vast depths of what music is and how it affects our lives. Let’s just agree that music is one of the greatest gifts to mankind.
I want to focus right now on us -- me and you -- what music means to us. Think of the first time you realized music is a powerful force in your life. I’ve not spoken with any of you, so I’m asking for a spontaneous response. Give us your first thought! Right now! I’ll call upon some of you in a moment, but first, do we have a volunteer? Testimonies . . . . .
[ various members of the board shared personal stories of singing as youngsters, peak moments of performance or emotional impact ]
Thank you for sharing these heart-warming experiences. I was six years old, first grade, Bonner elementary school in Tyler, Texas. I remember where I was standing in the auditorium and remember who was standing on each side of me. The entire school had gathered for the weekly assembly program. We always had an all-school sing- along during assembly. On this day we sang a song the music teacher had taught to each class. I stood there proudly offering my voice to the sound of hundreds of students . . . “O, Columbia the gem of the ocean, the home of the brave and the free . . .”
I didn’t know what all the fancy words meant . . . come to think of it, I still don’t! All I knew was, my knees almost buckled. My skin crawled with electricity. My eyes filled with tears as the majesty of the melody melted me . . . And I knew at that very moment that I would sing and write songs for the rest of my life. As a matter of fact, that week I wrote my first Sunday school song, and it was sung in our Baptist church for quite a while!
Since then there have been countless “special moments.” That’s the advantage of living a lot of years. . . . . I didn’t say anything about being old . . . I said “living” and doing it for many years!!
In January 1996, at my retirement speech to the Board, I spoke about the power of music. I related a most special incident concerning me and my mom. In her younger years she thrilled audiences with her glorious rendition of “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” It was her favorite gospel song. But in the last few days of her life she was so stricken with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s that she could no longer communicate. She was off in her own silent world.
During my last visit with her, the nurses positioned her in a wheel chair with straps to keep her upright and I wheeled her down the hall where there was a piano. I started playing some songs and as people gathered I led them in a sing-along. I told them about my mom and how she used to sing “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.” As I began to play and sing it, my dear, sweet mom lifted her head from her chest and picked right up on the first phrase . . . singing every note and word right on pitch . . . not with the power she once had, but with the sweetest sound I ever heard. I kept playing. She kept singing. Through the power of music we were communicating!! I was in touch with the one who had started my life with music . . . music every day. A few days later she was gone. I will have that moment recorded in my brain forever. Oh, the power of music!
“Music would be at the center of my life whether it was my profession or not.” And, as a Society, our Envisioning Task Force is trying to determine our center core. To me, personally, it’s music! It’s singing songs! It’s creating harmony!
It’s likely that every one of our members have experienced great musical moments. Some are vicarious in nature. Who could ever forget Boston Common singing “That Old Quartet of Mine,” Rural Route 4 singing “Tie Me To Your Apron Strings Again,” Northern Lights singing “Brother Can You Spare A Dime,” and the Vocal Majority singings lots of things!!!
What troubles me about us, and it haunts me night and day . . . . We, in so many ways, live in isolation as an organization. We have instances of trying to shake loose. We can be proud of our collegiate quartet contest, and the successful harmony explosion camps. There’s not one of us who doesn’t applaud and support these efforts. My major concern is the complacency of a large portion of our membership.
When was the last time you spoke with a non-member about singing? There’s not a day goes by that you don’t have several opportunities to “witness” to men, women, boys, and girls about music, what it means to you and what it can do for them.
The Society Motto is “Keep The Whole World Singing.” President Rob has adopted it as his theme in order to focus attention and give direction. If you truly know music has a dramatic effect on people, what’s holding you back from talking about it? Are you afraid to rock the boat of silence as you stand in line to buy tickets for a show or pay at the check-out counter, or ride in a public conveyance? I know I must have embarrassed Kay many times. We were at a restaurant a few nights ago. Four women at the next table got up to leave. I couldn’t resist. I said, “do any of you like to sing? We have a fabulous women’s chorus right here in Lake Geneva and we’re letting people know about it.” No takers that time, but I told them to where and when any of their singing friends can come on Tuesday nights.
Coming to Biloxi, I spoke with a number of people about singing. Kay and I spoke with a woman on our shuttle bus from the Biloxi airport. She promised to go to the website of “Song of Atlanta,” when she returned to Atlanta. Said she loved to sing.
I have 58 Society members notched on my F to F pitch-pipe and a couple of dozen on my C to C pitch-pipe for the women’s organizations. I can’t keep quiet about it. I don’t want to keep quiet about. It’s my mission and my passion in life!!!
I challenge you! Get out of your shell, if you’re in one. Inspire your member friends to do the same as you and live your life as a believer in “Keep The Whole World Singing.” There are millions of people who need music. Empty lives . . . Missing the magic of music.
For: what is a heart without harmony?
What is a soul without song? . . . (well, it’s like)
A bird with no wings, a harp with no strings,
A world without right or wrong.
Teach the children to sing. Our gift is a lifetime of song.
Joy, transcending, sets every ear bending
To hear voices blending so strong
Teach the people to sing, that all their voices belong.
Radiant faces, a rainbow of races
joined in harmonious song.
It’s up to you and me. It’s in our hands. What, in heaven’s name, are we going to do about it?!!!
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