written by Allison Jarrell, LPMT, MT-BC, Metro Music Makers Founder and CEO
This week I watched a Common Ground segment I really wanted to share. It features Kelly Hall-Tompkins, my former high school classmate from the Greenville Fine Arts Center. I remember how enthusiastic Kelly was about whatever we were studying in AP Music Theory. Watching her in this interview brought back memories of being in class together!
Kelly is now a world-class violinist and the founder of Music Kitchen – Food for the Soul®, which brings live music into homeless shelters. I couldn’t stop smiling as she talked about her work. I’m so proud of her and how she’s using her music to connect with people.
Music as a way to care for others
The segment opens with Dr. Paul Kalmansson, a physician who plays cello for his patients. He earned a master’s degree in music before going to medical school. I love that he’s found a way to bring both into his work. He describes this as “why you go into music in the first place, to actually reach somebody else in a way that’s not possible through any other medium.”
That’s something I appreciate about my work in music therapy. We can get to know someone through the songs they love and the music we make together. We have somewhere to begin, even when conversation is difficult.
Another line from the interview stayed with me: “Musicians are community builders.”
Yes! This is one of the things I love most about being a musician. We get to bring people together who might otherwise have very little reason to meet. At our student events, music is the reason everyone is there. Families get to hear each other’s children play, talk with our teachers, and spend some time together. I love that we can create those opportunities.
Giving students a chance to share
It’s also why we encourage our students at Metro Music Makers to perform for their families, in their communities, and at our events. They put so much time into learning their music, and I want them to experience the joy of sharing it. Playing for a family member or a room full of neighbors gives them a chance to see what their music can mean to someone else.
We spend a lot of time helping students get ready to perform, and it’s easy to focus on whether they’ll remember all the notes. I also want them to enjoy the people they’re playing for. When someone says, “I love that song!” or asks about their instrument afterward, they get to have a conversation that started with their music. That’s something I hope they’ll want to experience again.
Make time for music together
Watching Kelly made me think about all the music we have to share, even while we’re still learning. If you’ve been working on a song, play it for someone in your family. Tell them why you chose it or what you like about it. And if you’re the listener, ask to hear it again next week. Having someone take an interest can mean a lot.
I’m so glad Kelly sent me this interview, and I wanted to pass it along to you. Be sure to stay through the end for her beautiful violin solo!