Exploring The Emotional World Of Music

February in Naples – the shortest month of the year – but not short on any wonderful opportunities to enjoy the arts! The holidays in February provide an interesting mix of emotions – February 14 – Valentine’s Day, celebrating all that represents love and warmth and positive relationships; February 17 – Presidents’ Day; celebrating all that our country represents. So I invite you to explore musical emotions during the month of February –

My memories of how music has impacted me emotionally begin when I was four and my grandfather, who sat principal clarinet in an orchestra took me with him to a rehearsal. As I sat beside his chair, he had a copy of the clarinet part and asked me to see if I could follow along (I had taken piano lessons – so notes were not unfamiliar to me) – imagine my thrill when I could follow along! This experience also introduced me to the unbelievable experience of sitting in the middle of a live orchestra – which also helps to explain why when I am in my car or home alone – my radio tuned to 88.7FM – I have the volume turned up as I want to feel the music all around me. One of the benefits of a personal concert hall – no one can tell you to turn the music down!

Find your emotional connection to music in February – the Naples Jazz Orchestra will begin the month with Freddy Cole – jazz singer and pianist on February 3 – 7 p.m. in Cambier Park. A completely different look at jazz can be found on February 4 with jazz harpist, Stacey Berkley at the United Church of Christ at 7 p.m. If you have found your emotional connection to jazz – you will not want to miss February 13 – at the Bonita Springs Performing Arts Center – one of Naples treasures – Rebecca Richardson will present a program on the women who made jazz great.

By now you might be wondering why I am focused a little on jazz during the month of February – well there is a connection between the two holidays we celebrate this month. For many jazz is a great connection emotionally and reminds them of days gone by – jazz greats like Duke Ellington; and it connects to our country as it is the truly American Musical Style. As recently as 1987 – our legislature passed a bill that said: “…jazz is hereby demonstrated as a rare and valuable national American treasure to which we should devote our attention, support and resources to make certain it is preserved, understood and promulgated.” So we celebrate our heritage in how our country came to be and our heritage of our own musical style – jazz.

For those who remember the music of the big bands – many had their roots in jazz – and you can enjoy this music in February – in fact on February 14 – the Music Makers Big Show Band will feature the music of the big bands at 7 p.m. in Cambier Park. So if you love the nostalgia of the music of a big band – do not miss this opportunity to be with someone you care about and enjoy the music. You can also end the month of another musical favorite – Glenn Miller – his music will be featured in the Naples Jazz Orchestra’s concert at 7 p.m.

A very special opportunity awaits you on February 23 – the music of the Civil War will be featured by the Trinityby- the-Cove concert series at 4 p.m. As we celebrate all that has made America great – one of these great treasures is the music – music from the around the world and close to home; music that we can celebrate as a truly American art form and music that tugs at our heartstrings.

Find your emotional musical connection – and remember that you can always have your personal concert, tuned to the volume you love – at 88.7 FM.