Darling / Weber Darling Conversations CD

FLASH! The Darling Conversations has been nominated for Best Educational Album in the 2009 JPF Music Awards!The Darling Conversations explores the fundamental techniques of sound-making as an instrument of self-expression and personal growth. By approaching music from a philosophy of self-acceptance and joy, we can tap our inborn creative impulse and re-vitalize our music-making.The techniques and philosophy were developed over the last 20 years in the Music for People organization, a group that promotes a humanistic approach to the way music is taught, performed, and appreciated.This 3-CD set contains extensive conversations with Grammy-nominated cellist David Darling and Music for People chairperson Julie Weber, highlighted with over 80 examples of improvised, in-the-moment music. Darling and Weber take the listener through the basic techniques of creating improvised music, examine the basic forms and structures of improvised music from many cultures, and also explore specific topics such as how to improvise classical music.*** Review by Paul Winter, saxophonist, bandleader, composer, explorer of the world's musics. www.LivingMusic.comDavid Darling is quite possibly the most dynamic and effective music educator on the planet. It was a great privilege and inspiration to work alongside him for many years. What he has created with Music for People is a gift the world!*** Review by Barry Green, double bassist, educator, recording artist. Author of The Inner Game of Music, The Mastery of Music, Music Alive! This 3-CD set has captured the spirit and magic of improvisation techniques taught at Music for People to hundreds of amateurs, professionals and music lovers for over two decades. The dialogue between David and Julie is enlightening, informative, engaging, and addictive. Once cannot casually listen without being inspired, informed and spontaneously joining in the many improvisations. The tracks are both musically stunning and simple, while they vividly demonstrate the multitude of Music for People techniques.This 3-Disk set is a marvelous inspiration for anyone considering attending a MfP course, for current and graduate participants of the training program and for anyone who just loves experiencing the magic of music improvisation. Bravo to Clint, David, Julie, MfP. I can’t wait for Vol 2!*** Review by Eric Edberg, music professor at the DePauw University School of Music... Along with what I find to be genuinely profound insights into the relationship between human beings and their creativity, there are numerous musical examples ... The music is beautiful and touching and most of it is exquisitely recorded.Listening to these recordings has been like attending a MfP workshop. I've been reminded of so much of the core, loving, empowering, embracing philosophy, as well as how that approach is manifested in many of the powerfully simple starting points and musical games David and others in the MfP community have developed.I can't recommend it highly enough. I'm having DePauw's music library order it, and I'm going to order a few sets, anyway, for holiday gifts. I'm also using it with my improvisation students ... Anyone who is interested in Music for People, in improvisation as a path of healing, and in ways to begin or enhance your own original music making, would do well to order this set.