How has music changed your life and helped you connect with other people? That's a question at the heart of the new movie "August Rush," and it's one we want to hear from you about. Post your stories below or upload your photos answering that question, and you can win one of these great prizes:
5 iPod/MP3 mini speakers
5 women’s musical-notes T-shirts
5 dark brown full zip hoodies embroidered with "August Rush" title treatment
1 mini guitar clock
1 pair of Bushnell 12 x 32 Powerview Binoculars
In "August Rush," opening Nov. 21, a young boy (Freddie Highmore) who's never met his parents makes his way to New York City to search for them. There, he encounters a makeshift shelter where dozens of children like him live under the protection of the enigmatic Wizard (Robin Williams)--and, picking up a guitar, the boy discovers he has an innate talent for music. As he works to develop that talent, he never gives up hope of finding his parents--and believes that if they can hear his music, they will find him.
So how has music made a difference in your life and connected you with others?
There are two ways to enter this contest:
1) Use the coments box below to tell us your story.
2) Upload your photo here to show us. If you're uploading a photo, make sure to put the words 'August Rush' in the space where it asks for "tags."
The best submissions will win. The deadline for entry is Tuesday, Nov. 27.
Click here for official contest rules.
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Music has been the interconnecting medium of so much inexpressible expression. If it was not here, It is easy to say the world would not be how it is. People have had so much opportunity with time and loved ones that they do not think of to collaborate eachother's dreams and ambitions. The love and understanding comes through the creation of many different sounds from a particular place in history with the certain surroundings. The created music that listeners will hear is a point that took much energy and effort. This beauty had to evolve through certain people and all the aspects of these performers lives before this point were all perfect to achieve the beauty. Traveling through different dimensions and achieving great feelings of pleasant voices and tones all create the mood in which we can live in. Unspoken understandings are a given in the world of music. To know the priceless value of what music has done for the universe is great. So the love of music has connected me with the world. Different people created it with their love and I connect to this in everything I do by listening to it and learning from them. I make music myself but i have no instruments i use other peoples! I do have a bougarabou for sale though. I hope this has acheived an understanding of music most will identify with. The musical artists made the music for us and the music is inside your head because it was made with you in mind. It is genuine and pure to hear all the sounds that you hear.
How to begin? I am not a storyteller, nor am I a music prodigy like August Rush himself, but music has played an important part in my life. I grew up playing music. Starting with piano lessons at five years old, lasting until I was seventeen, I branched out to other instruments. I picked the violin for a few years- even played in the school orchestra.
My background played a part in the next turn my musical life took. You see, I am Chinese American- my parents immigrated to the States from Taiwan. Although my brother and I both were born and raised here in the US, we grew up immersed in Chinese culture. We learned Chinese, did various traditional Chinese activities including dance and kung fu, and last but not least, Chinese instruments. We both picked up the er hu (upright chinese violin). We even participated in a Chinese music ensemble, which is not unlike a small orchestra made up of Chinese instruments (and a cello :P). I turned from the er hu to a different Chinese instrument- the gu zheng (chinese zither)a horizontal 21 stringed instrument which I love.
Although it has been a few years since I had music lessons of any kind, whenever I go home for a visit (I'm in college) I can't resist plunking down in front of the piano or the gu zheng and playing a few of the pieces I've learned. There's something about music. It calms and soothes; it brings back memories, or you can loose yourself in it and just forget your troubles for a while. I can't imagine growing up without learning music.
August Rush was a beautiful movie. I was lucky enough to see the sneak preview; and by the time I came out of the theater, I had an overwhelming urge to just sit down at the piano and start playing. I may never be August Rush, or a couple of my friends who excel at the violin (and one who just excels at everything), but I'll always have music and the ability to play it.
Without a piano or my beloved zither here on campus, I have to make do with singing along with my iPod on my way to classes and receiving odd looks because, let's face it- I really can't sing.
In March 2000, my nephew (a missionary to the Yanomamo Indians in Venezuela) and his wife (a Venezuelan national) came to the U.S. for the birth of their daughter. On March 22rd, she went into labor and began having problems; was transported to a hospital in Warrenton, VA where she remained in labor until noon, March 23rd. The doctor finally decided she would be having a C-section and the baby girl, Mikeila, was born, under much distress. She wasn't breathing and the breatholizer at the hospital wasn't working. She was transported to the UVa hospital in Charlottesville and was put on an EKMO machine to take out her blood through her neck and the blood was purified and back into her heart through another hole in her neck. She wasn't given much chance at life, but through much prayer and God's love she survived, even though she had seizures from time to time. She had some brain damage and her eyes crossed as a result of the EKMO; straightened when she was about 17 months old. She had speech problems and became frustrated when one couldn't understand her.
They returned to the jungles of Venezuela but had to come to the US often for medical appointments.
On Jan. 11th, she had a severe seizure and after medication, seemed to be coming out of it. That evening she asked her mother to take her to visit the chickens and told them good-bye; she went into her brothers rooms and lay down on their beds even the 2 brothers who were in the US and told them she would be okay. Next she told all her dolls and toys good-bye. On Jan. 12th she slipped into a coma and due to the Mission having no air support, couldn't get her to a town where she could see a doctor, although the family worked with her all day. She went to be with the Lord around 2 PM. This was a very hard time for the family, as her brothers birth mother died from malaria there in Venezuela when they were 8, 6, and 3 years old respectively. She also had a sister, 3 years old.
Later as her Dad was working in his office, her little sister, Mia, was rocking in Mikeila's little rocking chair and started talking. Her Dad finally listened to what she was saying: "You know, MiMi's okay; she told me she would be okay, before those people came and took her away." Her Dad questioned her as to what people, and she answered, "Those people who took her to be Jesus." I truly believe Angels visited her and told her these things.
I really enjoy all types of music. I have a daughter who is now 14 yrs who has adhd and music has been such an avenue for both us. Since I was a little girl my dad always had sanish music playing such as salsa,bachata ect.. and I learned to appriciate the power of music. The sense of music calms the setting in my room and creates laughter as well conforts when there are problems within the household. Music is a big part of my household and culture.
well, i just started listening to gospel music, it's wonderfully inspiring,i listen to it while i'm on the computer reading beliefnet, so thats double my inspriation, it just fills my heart with love&happiness just the words of the gospel music fills me with something i can't explain it just fills my soul with faith&hope for the better days to come. BEAUTIFUL WORSHIP ARE TWO WONDERFUL CD'S!
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