DannyFarley

Bradley
English11
12/12/2013

ThePowerofMusic
"Musicdoesbringpeopletogether.
Itallowsustoexperiencethesameemotions.
Peopleeverywherearethesameinheartandspirit.
Nomatterwhatlanguagewespeak,whatcolorweare,
Theformofourpoliticsortheexpressionofourloveandourfaith,
Musicproves:Wearethesame."
~JohnDenver~

Mr.Denvercouldnothaveputthatanybetter.Musicistheonly

trueuniversallanguagethatcanunitethecynical,destructive,ignorant,anddownright
recklessandrelentlesshumanbeing.Forinstance,inthelate60s,chaosragedonin
theUS.TheVietnamWarwasatitsbitterend,thecivilrightsmovementwasatits
prime,dozensofprotests,riots,andsitinsledtothearrestsofhundredsofcitizens.
Evenamidstthehurtandthepainandtheanimosity,everyonecametogetherforan
eventthatisstillrememberedasatimewheremusicbecamethebondthatbrought
togetherthousandsandthousandsofpeopleforaweekend.

MaxYasgursFarmBethel,NewYorkonAugust15th,16th,and17thof

1969.Overahalfofmillionpeoplecrowdeda600acrespreadoffieldtowitnessa
32act,revolutionaryeventthatunitedavastamountofpeoplewithmusicasthe
foundation.Forjustoneweekend,musicbecamethesoleimplementfortheunityof
thathalfofmillionpeople.Black,white,rich,poor,Asian,Italianandsoon,spewedinto
oneraceinitselfasmusicconqueredthehatredandfighting.AsJoniMitchellsaid,
"Woodstockwasasparkofbeauty,wherehalfamillionkidssawthattheywerepartof
agreaterorganism."Therewasnopain,nostruggle,andnoworry.Musicwasthe
savior.

Musicsweptmeoffmyfeetatayoungage.Ihadmyfirstguitarinmy

handatage5.Mymothertooknoticeasmyabilitiesandatage9,Iwastakinglessons
fromapastoratthechurchsheworkedat.Monthswentbyandhefoundanewjob,so
wesaidourfarewellsandmypassionsbecamedormant.
Aboutayearafterthat,Ibegantakinglessonsagainfromaprofessionalguitarist
outofCaliforniawhichdramaticallystrengthenedmyabilities.
Sincethen,nearlyeverySunday,Ivehadtheblessingofinfluencinganentire
congregationatmychurch.Weekafterweek,Igettoexperiencefirsthandthepower
thatmusichasoverpeople.Beingabletousemytalentsinapositiveandeffectiveway
issurrealtomeandmyonlyhopeisthatImaysomedaybeabletoexpandthat
influenceandbeabletoimpactamuchlargergrouppeople,godproviding.