Hi Everyone,
I'm writing you from Chennai, India - where I've been settling in for the last month.
I've come here on a Fulbright - where my objective was to study South Indian classical music.
Part of my proposal was to not just look at tradition here, but to bring my own musicianship to the table as a performer and educator in New York. Only since being here have I truly understood the need for this.
As you probably know from many previous emails - I am bringing my group, the Xylopholks, to India in January. We'll be documenting the tour with filmmaker Martha Shane. I just booked the flights, so it's really happening - and I'm really in debt!! I NEED YOUR HELP!
We're not trying to get rich here. I think the band would agree, at this point, it might be awesome to break even.
When I first sent out emails about this, I didn't know the magnitude of this tour. Now I'm beginning to see the potential and importance. Each organization I get involved with here on the educational and arts front is starving for music. Not simply performance, but programs - education. Children are getting a competitive education in math, science, and in many cases English. Music is almost always an extra-curricular endeavor.
My dream is that we might be able to establish educational programs in music. I know so many American musicians who want the experience of traveling to India to learn music, such as myself. Are they aware there are opportunities to come teach in schools, and learn simultaneously? How great a contribution to be the one to bring music to the lives of so many here? Not just a concert or a workshop, but a long term program. By bringing the Xylopholks to India I have an angle to approach the extremely large task of moving programs into place.
The amount of attention and importance placed on an ensemble coming from abroad to play for audiences in India is great. I wish to use this attention to draw more attention to the need to contribute to education and awareness in music.
I've put dates down to work with children in Eureka Schools around Tamil Nadu. We're also planning to play for children as part of similar programs in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi. This is in addition to concert hall programs we'll do for audiences that will be baffled by our furry costumes. I can't wait!!
I ask that you please consider a donation on our brand new KICKSTARTER webpage for raising funds. If you're unable to do so at this time - I thank you - please consider forwarding this to your friends or posting the site to your facebook or twitter. It would be a great help. I know there are programs of varying degrees of importance - and so many great causes out there, however, I do believe from the bottom of my heart that this is going to be something great. Bigger than just a concert tour. Your support will go a long way to contributing to my life's work to make folks smile.
Here's the link to site. We're looking at raising $1,500. If this goal is met, we'll get the funds. If it is not, your donations don't get processed and it is as if nothing happened. As I write this we're already at $80.00 from my day's posting on facebook and twitter. I think, with your help, the $1,500 is possible. That will be enough for us to break even on our flights to and from India. The domestic travel in country and other expenses will rely on your generosity in hoping that we exceed our goal. Some of you have donated in the past and are donating again - for this I can just say: after a long day running all over Chennai, full exhausted, you make it all worth it.
Yours-
Jonathan Singer
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