A worth watching video of Francisco Varela talking on personal and transpersonal consciousness. This Chilean biologist, philosopher and neurosicientist died in 2001.
“If everybody would agree that their current reality is A reality, and that what we essentially share is our capacity for constructing a reality, then perhaps we could all agree on a meta-agreement for computing a reality that would mean survival and dignity for everyone on the planet, rather than each group being sold on a particular way of doing things.”
Alice Herz-Sommer is a 107 year old lady with an extraordinary optimism. She was a prisoner on a German camp during the II World War and music helped her survive the holocaust and kept her alive over all these years. “Alice dancing under the gallows” is the title of a documentary on her life.
On this video you can find some uplifting and inspiring messages:
Everyday in life is beautiful, so be aware of the beauty of life!
Today is the International Women´s Day and my best wishes go to you all women in the World. Below you can watch and listen to some videos of some friends of mine who inspire me because of who they are, their dedication and talents:
Dr Ben Carson was born in a poor and single-parent family from Detroit. But this did not prevent him from achieving his dream of becoming a brain surgeon… And he is one of the top ten in the world! Here you are an inspiring video with his own words. Below you can find the text I have transcribed for you.
The person who has the most to do with what happens to you is… You!
I was fortunate enough to have a mother who believed in me when nobody else did. She refused to allow me to fail. She only allowed us to watch a small amount of TV and she made us read books. When everybody else was outside playing, we had to read books. But in the process of reading those books, I read about a lot of people, successful people. And I came to realize that the person who has the most to do with what happens to you… is you! It´s not somebody else. It´s not some outside influence. It´s not some environmental factor. It´s you and the choices that you make. And once I realized that, poverty didn’t bother me anymore. Because I knew I could change that. Nothing will ever bother me anymore, because I knew I could change it. Whatever it was! And that´s the message that I try to get across to other people. It doesn´t matter what the circumstances were that you´re born in, as long as you have a normal brain, because the human brain is the most fabulous organ system in the universe. All human brains are. And I can tell you as a brain searcher, when I open that skull and I take off the bone and I’m looking at that brain, I cannot tell whether that brain is from Africa, Skandinavia, Iran or South America. Because they are all the same! And the fact of a matter is that’s the thing which really makes us who we are. The external stuff is just wrapping. It really doesn’t mean anything. I think people put far too much emphasis on the wrong things.
The 4th coachtulia was held yesterday, Friday 18th February 2011, at the “Ateneo de Madrid”, in the room Manuel Azaña. The topic of our gathering (combining coaching and debate) was “How the hell can we discover our talent?”. We watched two short videos, one of Joshua Bell and another one of Rachel Flowers performing with Arturo Sandoval, in order to show that:
talent goes unnoticed in an inappropriate environment,
to live on your talent, it has to be acknowledged and valued by others.
We also listened to a beautiful choral music, Maria durch den Dornwald ging, byGünter Raphael to show that your talent can be forgotten as well and you need the help of others to rescue it from oblivion.
Those present: Carla Franco, Carmen Cayuela, Victoria Caro, Fran, Bárbara, Teresa Gómez, Sonia Heras, Karolina Kuleczka and Michael Thallium (on the picture Carmen and Bárbara are missing).
This is what happens when talent is in an inappropriate environment:
I feel so much respect for who she is and what she does… Here you can see Rachel Flowers playing with Arturo Sandoval and some other great musicians. Don´t miss the end when Arturo calls her name and she has an standing ovation from the audience. What a girl!
The third “coachtulia” (a combination of two terms “coaching” and “tertulia”, a Spanish word meaning “gathering & debate”) was held today, Friday 28th January. The topic was “Talent: Occupation and Benefit”. The next coachtulia will be held on 18th February. If you wish to have more information about it or participate, please follow:
(Text originally written in Spanish by orchestra conductor Victor Morales.
English version by Michael Thallium)
The fact that our present Spanish music educational system includes the orchestra as part of the curriculum has allowed hundreds of young music students to gain access to this activity, essential for the personal development, which can turn into their career in the future.
This element and their enthusiasm for playing music has led to the dawn of a big number of youth orchestras and bands, mostly amateurs. And some of them are called to be professional someday.
It could not be otherwise! Just think about the great benefits such an activity can provide at a personal level as well as at a social level. Among the virtues of it, I would emphasize the educational element, not only from a technical and musical point of view, but also from a human point of view, because symphonic music is based on ethical and aesthetic principles. This involves a great knowledge musicians must have on aesthetic, philosophical and historical terms and concepts.
An symphonic orchestra is a tremendously efficient means of socialization and personal development. Orchestras represent a model for a perfect team, because the final result depends on the will, cooperation and efforts of every single member of the orchestra. This involves compromise and discipline by the musicians when they want to be part of a group.
Another thing I would like to emphasize is the versatility of the symphonic groups. You can design projects based on music from different times and genres and you can even create a music fusion between apparently so distant styles such as hip hop and symphonic. This involves varied and rich programs, devoid of prejudices, but also with a good deal of common sense. It is not about doing “anything”, but to achieve “something” coherent regardless of the music genre you are dealing with.
But I would like to go even deeper. These kind of music groups are a platform to provide young musicians with protection and opportunities to escape social exclusion and marginalization. As a paradigm of it, we can find the fantastic project of the Venezuelan economist Juan Antonio Abreu. His National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela and his Symphonic Orchestra Simón Bolívar was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts 2008.
And just to finish this short article, I would also like to pass on the idea that, even if it is true that not all of the members of a youth orchestra will end up dedicating their lives to music as professionals, however, I have the hope they will become great music lovers and expert audiences at concerts and they will contribute to strengthen this activity in our society and, even better, in their own lives. Bravo to them!
Dr 
The fact that our present Spanish music educational system includes the orchestra as part of the curriculum has allowed hundreds of young music students to gain access to this activity, essential for the personal development, which can turn into their career in the future.
