I have been reflecting on how Ragazzi contributes to the health and happiness of our boys and how this helps our society. I see Ragazzi building teamwork among our members and I see the boys responding with joy to music.
This summer it was my good fortune to immerse myself in the study of early American cultures. As we studied the ancient Native American cultures and then the world of the early Western pioneers, I was struck by a new insight. We have always, in our society, cherished the concept of self reliance but when we look at the reality of those early times we see the huge role that is played by community. People got together to build barns, to put up vegetables and fruit, to plow the fields, to educate their children. What was truly important was the way these early people worked together.
I also read in the New Yorker a fascinating article about happiness, healing and the role of the body. Starting with Norman Cousins, who in the 80’s wrote famously about beating disease by watching comedies, there has been increasing interest in how physical manifestations of happiness (laughter, smiling, up-beat movement) cause internal changes in the body. I saw this Wednesday night in our first rehearsal of the new season. When we took out a bouncy, happy song, the boys began to move rhythmically as they smiled broadly to the music. Music not only expresses feelings, it can also create feelings and as the research is beginning to show, good feelings have a salutary effect on our body.
So as we educate our boys, we celebrate the power of teamwork and community in raising responsible, self-reliant citizens. We celebrate the joy of making music in community and the healing benefits of happiness.
Joyce Keil, Artistic Director
Ragazzi Boys Chorus
Fax:650-570-6233
