Playing For Change: When Music Can Make The Difference
Can music make the difference? Yes.
Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.
Everything began seven years ago on the streets of Santa Monica, California, with one man and his guitar. The musician’s name was Roger Ridley and he was singing the timeless classic “Stand by Me”. When asked why, with so much talent, he was singing on the streets, he replied, “Because I’m in the joy business, I come out here and bring joy to the people.”
From there they continued on their journey around the world recording and filming over 500 musicians in 30 countries with the intention of building a global family united through music. Playing for Change has now created over 15 different songs around the world as well as a documentary titled ‘Peace Through Music.
Three years ago they created the Playing for Change Foundation to build music and art schools around the world for children and unite them together through technology. They have currently established eight music and art schools in five countries around the world and their programs offer hope and music education to over 1,000 children.
Here is the link if you want to participate or donate or if you want to order their CD or DVD.
Even Bono participated in one of the songs, that you can enjoy here at this link: War / No More Trouble.
No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And as Bob Marley said in the above song (War / No More Trouble): “We don’t need more trouble, what we need is love.”
