Music and the Joy of Diversity Workshop

The Music and the Joy of Diversity workshop can include all audiences, all ages, musicians and non-musicians, all at the same time. It usually features a story about how music was discovered/born. And as Corky says;"This way we are allowed to clear the slate of preconceptions about music." It's a fictional story that stars a cave man named Thor (played by Corky) who lived before the time of recorded history. He stumbles upon a Steinway grand piano hidden in the back of a cave. Thor knows nothing about music but he approaches the instrument and begins to experiment. All the elements of music are available to him, but he has no "skill" as we know it. The power and beauty that is hidden in the relationship of sound and silence and the resulting musical elements is effectively demonstrated.

Besides being entertaining, this program creates an environment that allows the audience of all ages to experience the deepest aspects of the musical form and have its true value revealed. They will see for themselves that music is truly a universal language that does uplift the world and helps bring people together. The demonstration will highlight the beauty and importance of diversity as a beautiful gift. In Corky's hands the solidity of the lines between musical genre disappear and diversity & cool become synonymous.

Corky explains; "You will find that the different forms and styles of music are really insignificant compared to the power and beauty that is hidden in the play of sound and silence. My head turns when I hear the word ice cream, not because it is strawberry, chocolate, or vanilla, but because ice cream is sweet, cool, and creamy. Sweet, cool, and creamy is the essential nature of ice cream and this is what draws us in and holds our attention. And it is the same with music. It is the musical elements that hold the power and draw us in and empower a flavor. Sometimes we get caught up in the idea that a particular flavor of music is more important than the music itself. This draws us away from the "uplifting" effect that most music offers. This mis-understanding contributes to the separation of forms of music and the subsequent separation of people."