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Music is a Bridge | February 2008 | Song #380

I look at you and see different
You look at me and see the same
I look at you and see magic
You look at me and see the world explained
Out of the fog and distance
We can find a way to dance
Out of the cold and darkness
We can find warmth and happiness

Refrain:
Music is a language
That connects us like a bridge
Meet me in the middle
Meet me at the edge
Music is a story
That connects us like a thread
Meet me in the middle
meet me at the edge

If you sing with words
That I don’t understand
Still my heart will comprehend
Whatever’s been torn or broken
Music always helps to mend
Whatever is too straight or rigid
Music always helps to bend
Our love of music makes us friends
Our love of music makes us friends

Refrain:

If you are alone, far from home
(Still the song remains)
Whatever you’ve lost or broken
(Still the song remains)
If you’re a stranger
In strange land
(Still the song remains)
Won’t you join me
In the melody?
(Still the song remains)
Now let’s add
A little harmony
(Still the song remains)
La la la la la
(Still the song remains)
Nu Waba Walangi
Chi Mazi Maya Tu Gatta
Still the song remains

Refrain:

You look at me and see different
I look at you and see the same
You look at me and see magic
I look at you and see the world explained

Commentary: I wrote this song while visiting a friend in San Francisco. It was commissioned by Bill Rodman for the Letters To Daddy Musical. The story I was given for the context was that the main character of the musical has just gotten into trouble for something at school. As a result she ends up in the principals office where she meets a new girl. The new girl is an orphan from Uganda, Africa who has been adopted by an American family. The two have nothing in common…except their love of music.

The larger idea here is that we can find cultural connections in a lot of ways. Music is one of the best. Irish musicians are using African percussion, African drummers are including the Irish tin whistle. And on it goes.

To hear more of my songs visit: MarkShepardSongs.com

- Mark Shepard, New Haven, CT

p.s. please “digg” or “stumble” or “Facebook” or Twitter this okay?

p.p.s. Follow me on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/MarkShepard

Elementary school children transfixed by a DrumSongStory program

How To Book A Great Cultural Enrichment Assembly Program for Your School and…

• Lower your stress level
• Save your school money
• Eliminate the risk of a “dud”
• Make a positive difference in the lives of your students & teachers

With One Phone Call!

Dear PTA/PTO Cultural Enrichment Chair, Principal, Teacher, Librarian,

Somehow it happened. You “volunteered” to book the cultural enrichment assembly programs.

You’ve been handed the “FOLDER.”

It’s bulging with brochures, fliers, catalogs, and postcards trumpeting a dizzying array of cultural arts programs. You know the one right?

• Where to start?
• How do you know what’s good and what’s not (or even available)?
• How do you avoid hours and hours of research and telephone tag?

If you give me a few moments of your attention, I can help you save time, hassle & money.

My name is Mark Shepard.

You may find some of my “DrumSongStory” K-12 School Programs in the “Folder”. Since 1993 I have dedicated my life to creating and performing the very best multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural enrichment programs for schools.

Over the course of thousands of performances throughout CT, RI, MA, NH, VT, ME, NY, NJ, PA I’ve learned how to make your job of booking cultural enrichment programs easy and hassle free.

Listen. I know you’re a volunteer. If you are like most of the PTA / PTO folks I work with, you have

• 2.5 kids
• 2 cats
• a Labrador Retriever
• a stressed out spouse
• and are also holding down a full time job.

The way I see it, the last thing you need is a hassle. Right?

Once you get a feel for my programs you’ll find they are extremely valuable. In some ways however, the content of the program may be less important than the essential factors that can make your life easy or hard.

As you think about your programming for this coming programming season, please consider the following:

• My proven, kid and teacher tested assembly programs support school themes and curriculum areas, inspire love of learning, even help teachers teach better.

• I’m dependable and “compulsively” early. Since 1993 and thousands of shows I’ve never canceled and only postponed 3. I usually arrive at least an hour and a half before show time. You don’t have to wait around wondering if I’m going to show up or not. This saves you stress and possible embarrassment.

• I’m easy to work with. I’ve heard plenty of stories about other performers who didn’t know how to deal with special-ed kids or with the tight time constraints of a school schedule. It’s no accident that I get compliments all the time about how well I handle mid-program distractions. That reflects positively on you.

• I’m on the CT Commission of the Arts which means I’m eligible for CT grants and NEFA touring funds. It also means I’ve been checked out and trained by some of the best Arts In Education specialists in the country.

• I come prepared. I bring a trailer full of state of the art sound system, drums from all over the world and a HUGE drum I carved out of a tree trunk that lights up from inside. So you don’t need to worry about whether it will sound and look good. It will.

• I’m easy to set up for. All I usually need from you is 3 armless chairs. It’s that simple.

• I do my own booking. This means you don’t have to deal with a middle man. When you call to find out if a date is available, you don’t have to wait for my booking agent to call me and me to call my agent back and then the agent give you a return call. I’m reachable directly. I give you my e-mail and cell phone. I usually return my calls within the same day. Less “Phone Tag” for you. Even better, my operations manager, Karen Clark, makes sure that all the details are handled. She brings years of experience to DrumSongStory as a school secretary and personal assistant to superintendents of schools. She also has two young children so she “gets” what you are dealing with.

• I can handle a wide age and developmental range. Because what I do works on so many levels I frequently do shows for audiences of K-8 as well as family concerts. Not many other artists can handle that age range successfully. What’s that worth?

• My programs are affordable. If you divide my single show fee by the typical audience size of 300 it works out to about $3.33 per child. For a large school where three performances are needed, the price often works out more like $1.83 per child.

Time is running out. Dates are limited and are booking fast. So call today!

I look forward to positively touching the hearts & minds of your students and bringing vibrant, enriching programs to your school. All this while making your life easier and saving your school money.

Yours truly,

Mark Shepard
www.DrumSongStory.com

For Booking Call: 1-888-598-7709 or E-mail: Mark [at] MarkShepard.com

See what DrumSongStory Programs are available for:

• K-12 Schools, Family Concerts, Fundraising Events
• Colleges, Universities
• Corporations, Non Profits, Conferences