In BLASTIN’ BARRIERS: Piano Master Class with FREDERICK HARRIS, the idea of challenging the ‘barriers’ of the mind is explored, at the piano, in publicly presented instruction by Frederick Harris, internationally acclaimed pianist and recording artist, and San Francisco native. BLASTIN’ BARRIERS: Piano Master Class with FREDERICK HARRIS is offered to 4-5 San Francisco piano students (up to age 18) that are currently studying piano in their schools and/or privately. Presented in 20-minute “public lessons” each, the Class will feature a broad range of musical styles and levels of experience, from beginner/intermediate to advanced. The goals of the Class are two-fold:

1. to expose youth, from diverse socio-economic and ethnic backrounds, to diversity in music.  Comprehensively, the piano binds that musical diversity .
2. to simultaneously entertain and educate the public about the breadth, influence and importance of African American music and culture, globally.

 
This Class is hosted by the St. John Will-I-Am Coltrane African Orthodox Church (coltranechurch.org), 1286 Fillmore St. @ Eddy, San Francisco, CA, and will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2009, at 3 p.m. The “Coltrane Church“, where Mr. Harris is also  pianist and music director, has provided homeless services and music instruction to the Western Addition community of San Francisco for approaching 40 years. The Class is offered as part of the St. John Coltrane Memorial Human Outreach Program.

As the historic inauguration of President Obama exemplifies an unprecedented, powerful change in our country, so must we continue to make powerful change in our communities. This program is a step toward stimulating change in the minds of our community‘s citizens.

And it needs your  support: Included in this event’s needs is a mid-sized, performance-ready grand piano! Either by rental, or by generous donation of usage, the benefits for a student involved in a master class begin with providing them a quality instrument, that exceeds the performance and condition of pianos they regularly play in school or at home.

Your generous, tax-deductible donation or in-kind contribution will positively impact the change our community needs, by educating and enlightening its youth and citizens.

$15 donation accepted at the door

Generous contributions are needed! Your support is appreciated!

Contributions can be made at: WWW.COLTRANECHURCH.ORG and by mail to:

Saint John's AOC
1286 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115