Art is not just music or drawing, it’s a language that cuts across all barriers. It brings out the personal strengths in you and helps you focus. It takes you to places, it makes you fantasize. It lasts long, something that will be there forever. Art says what words couldn’t possibly express. It gives you power over yourself. Moreover, it’s good to make things now and again. You don’t need a reason to, you need a reason not to make it.
At a Grade 8 assembly, the Mashed Potatoes got ready for performing in front of an very eager and restless bunch of students. As the band members filed into position, the crowd went dead silent. The drummer started the countdown, the guitarist started strumming, the pianist started playing soft chords and the singers got ready. As the instruments melded together, the singers began. Nobody talked for the 3 minutes that they performed. Every eye was on the band. Either the intricate finger movements of the guitarists or the nodding of the drummers head or even the pianist swinging his head from side to side.
As the song receded, the audience erupted into applause. Manini Banerjee, the guitarist of Mashed Potatoes said” I really enjoyed playing her guitar because she could share music and her thoughts. I really like playing my guitar because it gives me a sense of relief. Arjun Achar of 8JRa said “All the instruments were in ensemble and everything seemed perfect for the 3 minutes. The sound of all the instruments together made me forget my worries. The performance was great and I wish that I had the guts to perform and loose myself like that.”
Written by Kunal
I am an 8th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA. My students are new to Investigative Journalism. They read and have responded to various articles you have written. Although we are not ready to blog individually, I would like to share their response with you:
ReplyDeleteDear Kunal,
I liked how you explained this, but it was also confusing. I agree that you need to practice, but the article did not always lead back to that main topic. I think there should be more about needing practice and relating your topic back to the Mashed Potatoes performance.
I liked the ways you glued the words together, I do kind of know what its like to play an instrument and be so into it that you lose track of time and you feel like you'er in another world, but I don't know the experience of playing live. But other than that I found this piece of writing really well put together.
ReplyDelete