Dr. Charles Smith, Peak to Peak. As a music educator and professional singer, I have always known that music is the fundamental underpinning of our souls. Music is simply all around us. It permeates our daily lives almost every minute. Take a moment in the morning, and sit outside with a cup of coffee or tea and forest bathe.  You will hear the bird melodies, the pitches of the hummingbirds as they glide by, squirrels chirping, or if you are fortunate enough, you might experience hearing the far off bugle of an elk.  Music has the power to instantly communicate. 

Music is an art form and cultural activity whose medium is sound organized in time.  As we are born, a pulse, a rhythm is felt and heard. A mother accompanies her new born child with melody. A cooing, a resonance of comforting sound, and the process of expression begins.  

We listen to music on radios, computers, cd’s, YouTube, and ear buds on our phones. We sing during religious services, Christmas carols with family and friends, music builds the energy at sporting events, movies are underscored with sound to heighten the drama. Attending concerts allows us to select those styles of music that we most enjoy. 

Music allows us to feel, to react, we cheer, we are made calm, we are brought to tears, we are inspired. 

I was influenced greatly by playing in a small dance band each weekend at the Elks Club. It supplied dance music for the post WWII generation. A social activity to say the least, but a social activity that was centered upon music.  I also enjoyed and was influenced by musicals. I have a vivid memory of attending Oklahoma as a child. I was struck by the line “The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye.” I was 8 years old at the time. Musicals have great stories, great characters, and all built upon lyrics, followed by melody and harmony. As I was introduced to classical music, I found that I had a disposition for German Lieder, French Melodie, and American Art Song.  I discovered the world of Schumann, Schubert, Faure, Poulenc, Gershwin, Puccini, Charles, and a variety of other composers. I was fortunate enough to be able to perform the great choral works of Verdi, Handel, Brahms, and Mendelsohn. 

Why is it important to have music education?  What are the benefits? There are many!

To learn music requires the discipline of patience, perseverance, practice, guidance, and passion. Start with learning rhythm, add melody, combining pitches into harmony, understand the lyrics, and then tell a story. Then the element of performance is added by standing up alone on the stage, or at a piano, with a guitar or playing an instrument.  Music allows one to build self-confidence, and learning how to be effective as a communicator is essential in all aspects of our daily lives.  

We can experience a wide variety of music and performance arts in our mountain community. You don’t have to travel far to find venues. Of course our fine community libraries offer food to the imagination. The Backdoor Theatre brings us the finest in big screen entertainment. The instrumental scene is full of variety in Nederland. There are world class operatic performances during the summer months at the Central City Opera. Karaoke can be found at the Branding Iron. Our schools have active and vital vocal and instrumental programs. Brightwood Music offers a variety of instrumental and voice lessons as well as instrument purchase and repair.

Music and theatre education is learned from a young age. The opportunities for our students to grow in performing arts are one of our most important responsibilities. Starting at a young age, pursuit of music, dance and theatre grounds our children for a lifelong enrichment in the performing arts. 

The mission of the Peak to Peak Players is to entertain, enrich, inspire, foster and develop artistic talents. This summer the troupe offered two theatre camps. The first camp focused on singing, acting, and dancing, culminating in a performance of Alice In Wonderland. The second camp performed a one act comedy The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza. Over three dozen students participated in these two separate theatre camps. 

Currently, the Peak to Peak Players are in the final stages of preparing Shrek- The Musical. Peak to Peak Players are proud to be able to offer a community theatre performing arts opportunity.  Following upon last year’s successful production of The Wizard of Oz, Peak to Peak recently completed an acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. 

Shrek – The Musical will be performed on July 26 – 28, 2019, and August 3- 4, 2019. Advanced tickets can be ordered online at peaktopeakplayers.com or purchased at the door. 

Plan to bring your family and friends to this heartwarming musical. Introduce your children to the magical world of performance art. Inspire them and then perhaps, come join The Peak to Peak Players as a performer, volunteer, or supporter. Community involvement is very rewarding. Perhaps your son or daughter will be on stage learning, growing, and finding a lifelong pursuit of the performing arts. 

(Originally published in the July 18, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)