A Note from the 2021 Keys for the City Pianos

It is so good to be back on the streets of Lancaster!

We’re able to share our keys, notes and our cool, hip, brilliant “looks” that our talented visual artists have created and given us.

Most of all, it’s wonderful to have you — the citizens of Lancaster — once again tickling our ivories. Both the white keys and the black keys. When we all work together — the white keys, the black keys and you — we create wonderful music.

In March 2020, we were tuned up and poised to be delivered from the Benchmark Construction warehouse to the artists who were going to give us our “makeovers” before hitting the streets in May.

And then?

Well, you know the next verse to this song.

We know that the pandemic has been incredibly difficult for you. It’s been hard on us, as well. We desperately wanted to be on the streets making music with you, bringing people together through music. It’s what we do. It’s what we live for.

We missed a lot while stuck in that warehouse for a year and a half. We didn’t experience the great Community Clamor, when music exploded through the city and county to thank our health care professionals for taking care of us.

We didn’t see the bands strapped on the back of trucks bringing music to our neighborhoods.

We didn’t see the musicians doing Zoom concerts (they don’t provide us with internet access in the warehouse). And we are just now checking out the various music-themed murals around town that served as a substitute for us last summer.

Like you, we were isolated. Just us Keys for the City pianos, sitting in the dark, commiserating, not knowing what the future would hold. That can get a piano thinking. But as with any difficult or challenging situation, there are hidden opportunities.

As with you, that time in isolation provided an opportunity for some serious contemplation and self-reflection about who we are, what we do and what’s truly important.

What we came to more fully understand and appreciate is that investment in music and the arts is more important than ever.

Throughout the pandemic, it was music and the arts that stepped to the forefront as a healing agent, keeping us connected during difficult and unsettling times. While it has been science and medicine that have helped us survive COVID-19, it has been music and the arts that have gotten us through it.

And we will continue to do so, because that’s what we do.

Our return represents another step in achieving something resembling normalcy. So please gather around and enjoy us. Let us help rebuild the connections that were severed and let us continue to help our community heal.

When things return to "normal," that will mean, for us, fighting against continued cuts in music programs, because music is more than notes played and songs sung. In other words, music is more than simply music.

Music is essential as an educational, healing and community-building tool. We hope you don’t forget how, when things were looking very dark, musicians and artists stepped up to fill the voids left by the isolation, pain, uncertainty and loss inflicted by the pandemic.

Perhaps the greatest lesson we learned was that we are not simply an “extra” that is nice to have, but rather, we are essential to our lives, our schools and our community.

So play on Lancaster! Play on!

This essay appeared in the Saturday, August 14 2021 edition of the LNP News

The Power of Music in a Stressful Pandemic

John Gerdy, founder of Music for Everyone, is shown outside his office at The Ware Center in this file photo.

Times like these can spur intense internal reflection about what is important in life. It also can lead to some questioning about whether what we do, whether at home or in the workplace, adds value in our community.

As the executive director of a music-related nonprofit organization, I have thought deeply regarding exactly how our mission of cultivating the power of music as an educational, community-building and public health tool applies to the COVID-19 crisis at hand. Clearly, while music is very important, an argument can be made that compared to the heroic public health workers and organizations that are directly addressing life-and-death issues, music’s importance pales.

But to underestimate the importance of music in our lives and communities in times like these is misguided.

Human beings are social creatures. Our brains are wired for, and our emotional health is tied to, being connected with others. We crave touch, we need human connections and we need to feel a sense of belonging. Our emotional and mental well-being literally depend on this sense of human connectedness.

In a crisis of this magnitude, people feel confused, afraid, alone and unmoored. These feelings and emotions are amplified significantly in a global viral pandemic that requires social distancing, self-isolation, and lockdowns. On top of that, the realization that such social distancing may be required for months rather than weeks further contributes to the anxiety, stress, and feelings of hopelessness.

Throughout time, one of the fundamental responsibilities of musicians and other artists has been to create art that shines a light on the issues of the day in a way that helps make sense of the world around us, offering hope and comfort amid fear and uncertainty. But in the age of this novel coronavirus, accessing and investing in music is infinitely more important for another reason.

It is clear that following closely on the heels of the virus will emerge an emotional and mental health crisis within our populace. The impact of social separation and isolation on issues relating to depression, loneliness, hopelessness, and suicide may skyrocket.

Research tells us that music is one of our most powerful therapeutic tools in helping to mitigate the effects and impact of depression, anxiety disorders, stress, loneliness, and isolation. Music can elevate an individual’s mood, resulting in a more positive outlook. It also offers a pathway to connecting with other humans.

That being the case, now more than ever we must harness and leverage the power and potential of music.

We hope to do this in a small way Thursday in the Community Clamor, an event led by LNP | LancasterOnline, the City of Lancaster, and Music For Everyone, the organization I lead.

We’re asking Lancaster city residents to step outside their homes at 6 p.m. — while maintaining safe social distances from their neighbors — to play a musical instrument, cheer, sing or simply bang together some pots and pans.

The aim will be to thank health care workers and other essential workers for putting their lives on the line during this pandemic. To let some of our anxiety go. And to connect with one another.

As David Brooks noted last month in The New York Times, “music and art are already filling the emotional gaps left by the absence of direct human contact.”

He cited the example of neighborhood kids putting on a cello concert for an elderly woman who was self-isolating. Other examples include the opera singer in Milan, Italy, who performed from her balcony for her neighbors during that city’s lockdown. Numerous musicians are conducting virtual performances from the comfort of their homes. These are all examples of how musicians and artists are creatively leveraging their talents to serve the greater public good.

In a very strange sort of way, the current self-isolation and lockdown measures offer musicians and artists something that they crave — a captive audience of individuals and families longing for entertainment and a sense of belonging and connectedness as they sit at home with nowhere to go.

While the most pressing current need is addressing the physical health issues and economic challenges related to this pandemic, let’s not forget that this current crisis challenges each and every one of us on an emotional and mental health level.

In the uncertain weeks and months ahead, leveraging music’s capacity to mitigate the negative impacts of isolation, and to keep people connected, will be profoundly important. Whether looking to bring your family together, calm your nerves, engage your kids or to feel connected to another human, music will be an essential tool in our efforts to survive the current crisis.

What we as musicians, artists, and community arts leaders do in the face of this crisis is vitally important. Our communities are going to need the soothing, healing and connectedness that music and the arts are uniquely qualified to provide.

We all need to think outside the box to leverage our talents, connections, resources and the power and potential of music and the arts to help our communities come out on the other side of this crisis stronger, healthier and more connected and empathetic than ever.

John Gerdy is founder and executive director of Music For Everyone. He can be reached at JohnGerdy@aol.com

This essay appeared in the Sunday, April 12 edition of the LNP News

Building Lifelong Communities Both Large and Small Through Music

One of the most important and powerful benefits of music is its capacity to build communities, both large and small, that can last a lifetime. I was recently reminded of that capacity by a television commercial. The opening scene shows four middle-aged men, instrument cases in hand, greeting each other. After a cutaway to a black-and-white photo of what is obviously the same four men playing music together as young adults, the final scene shows them playing together again, forty years later.

Music’s potential to build community, not only through attendance at a music event, but, more important, by providing opportunities for actual participation, is something that cannot be undervalued or overestimated. Music’s powerful influence in this regard is largely due to the fact that you can participate in music for your entire life. That is why it is so important that we offer broad access to music education in our schools from an early age throughout high school.

The most common way to reap the benefits of music’s community building potential is through continued participation in bands or jam sessions. There are all types of bands with all kinds of sponsoring agencies. Whether a community band, a group of friends forming a rock or jazz band, or simply a loosely coordinated, regular drum circle, there are plenty of opportunities to become an active, participatory member of a music community, regardless of your age or ability. In fact, it is widely accepted that being connected to others and part of a community becomes more important as we age.

And it is not simply small bands or groups of friends that can define a “music inspired community. There can be all types and sizes of music communities.

I have had the great fortune to witness music’s continuing capacity to build community through my work with Music For Everyone. One of MFE’s key mission components is to cultivate the power of music as a community-building tool.  Two of MFE’s programs provide great examples of music’s ongoing community-building potential.

The MFE Community Chorus is a choral group that gets together one night a week to sing. The group is open to anyone, regardless of age or ability. Average attendance at the weekly gatherings is between fifty and seventy, with over a hundred members in total. The chorus is a vibrant community in and of itself. It brings together a very diverse group of people who have bonded in ways that go beyond music. Friendships have blossomed. Members emphasize how much they enjoy the group and how much it means to be a part of it. And the group has developed its skill to the point where it has public gigs that draw crowds in the hundreds.

MFE’s Keys for the City program, in which between ten and twenty artistically designed and painted pianos are placed throughout the city of Lancaster each summer, is another powerful example of music’s ongoing ability to build community. Whether you are a virtuoso or a beginner, whether you play Chopin or “chopsticks,” you have access to these pianos. Everyone who has played one of these pianos or heard one being played while walking through downtown Lancaster is connected. Literally tens of thousands of magical musical moments occur around those pianos each summer with people of all ages, races, and beliefs coming together to share the community building power of music. They all share this common civic and very public experience.

A major part of that shared public experience is the extraordinary way the citizens of Lancaster have embraced the program and care for these pianos.  The first season, there were serious doubts the pianos would last a week on the streets before being vandalized and destroyed. But Lancastrians proved the naysayers wrong. That first year, after 20 pianos were on the streets available 24/7 for four months, there was one incident of vandalism. This very public display of caring and responsibility has resonated throughout the community. It has instilled a sense of civic pride in the decency and integrity of the citizens of the Lancaster community. Keys for the City has had a profound impact on Lancaster’s vibrant arts scene by providing a random gift of music, uncountable times throughout the city all summer long. This is a real-life testament to music’s tremendous ability to contribute to a sense of community in profound and ongoing ways.

Further, because music is the universal language, its potential community-building impact is not only local but global.  There are all types of musical groups that bring together young adults for tours of foreign countries, which enables them to learn about and appreciate different cultures as a way of demonstrating that we are all part of a world community.  In an age that demands the crossing of cultural and national divides, a universal language has great value.  

Meanwhile, the number of ways in which music can be utilized to build community through such venues as concerts, benefit shows, tours, street events and exhibits, is essentially limitless.

But what do these and other community music programs have to do with educational funding priorities of our high schools?

A primary purpose of our educational system is to encourage and inspire a commitment to and love of life long learning. But that is simply the beginning. We must also provide students with the experiences on which to base this commitment, as well as the resources necessary to build a foundation to be an active life-long learner. Education continues after your school years are over. An investment in quality, broad-based and accessible music opportunities and programs can foster an interest in, and life-long love of, music and, as a result, a lifelong continuation of the benefits and lessons learned through such participation. 

Music brings people together in our shrinking world

PUBLISHED ORIGINALLY ONLINE at LancasterOnline.com /  May 1, 2017

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Despite the current political climate where efforts to build walls, ban travel and separate different ethnic groups are increasing, an argument can be made that over time, the forces of globalization are simply too strong and, ultimately, will prevail.

The result is that the U.S. is no longer a virtual island, protected by two major oceans. We can no longer isolate ourselves from the problems, issues and opportunities of the rest of the world. We are part of a global economic and geopolitical system. In so many ways, we are becoming one world.

Rather than trying to build walls we must learn to effectively deal with that reality.

This begs the question: What must our educational institutions do to effectively educate and prepare our children to succeed in this changing global reality?

Increasingly, our schools are being asked to instill in our children not only an awareness and appreciation for changing global circumstances, but also to prepare them to successfully navigate the challenges presented by an increasingly multiethnic and multicultural global community. In other words, proficiency in reading, writing and math is no longer enough.

Today, a quality education must include an understanding of, appreciation for, and the ability to function in a multiethnic, multinational, interrelated world.

If we expect our children and our nation to thrive in the 21st century, our educational policies and programs must take into account these changing challenges and expectations. In particular, this includes priorities and policies relating to the role that music can play in the school curricula.

Music has always been viewed as a powerful tool in breaking barriers and promoting cross-cultural appreciation. That is why, for example, there is a long and strong history of the U.S. State Department using music as a vehicle to promote cultural understanding.

The number of cultural exchange programs that have music groups from countries all over the world travel to America and vice versa are too many to mention. Also consider the radio networks that broadcast American jazz, blues and rock ‘n’ roll to a worldwide audience. Teens are downloading music from around the world on their smartphones.

I was recently reminded of music’s potential in this regard by a fellow musician recounting a visit to Italy. He described two very unexpected highlights. As he and his family entered an open plaza in Rome, they heard, flowing out of a beautiful cathedral, the sound of a choral group in full-throated Latin. Upon further inquiry, they were surprised to discover the group consisted of high school students from all over the United States. They were rehearsing for a performance, one of several they were scheduled to give throughout Europe.

The second occurred at a cafe in Venice, where they noticed a play bill advertising an upcoming appearance by a choral group. Upon closer examination, they saw that the group was a high school chorus from a small town in rural Indiana. Imagine being a high school kid from a country town in middle-America singing in Florence, Italy. How cool is that!

Music is the universal language with an appeal that transcends language, cultural or religious boundaries. The notes played by a musician fall on the ears the same way whether you are American, Muslim, Jewish, African or Mexican. Engaging in musical activities with people of another culture or country can increase cultural understanding and tolerance. It is the ability to build bridges to other cultures and societies that makes music such a valuable educational and cultural tool.

In an increasingly integrated global economy and diverse world community, providing our children access to music education opportunities is critical. Rather than building walls, school and community leaders should be working to leverage the power of music as a universal language to break down barriers and build community.

In today’s world, harnessing music’s power in this regard is more important than ever.