Music From The Inside Out

Synopsis

The intersection of art and life are at the core of MUSIC FROM THE INSIDE OUT™, Academy Award® nominee Daniel Anker's cinematic exploration of music through the stories, the passions and the artistry of the musicians of the Musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra. The film is the result of a unique collaboration with the musicians themselves, and has played in theaters nationwide to critical and audience acclaim.

Filmed over a period of five years on three continents, MUSIC FROM THE INSIDE OUT™ is groundbreaking in style and approach: the main character of this film is “Music” itself. Incorporating a blend of well-loved musical works—including classical, jazz, bluegrass, salsa, and world music – the film features one of the most eclectic soundtracks of any recent documentary.

It is a film that strives for passion and intimacy: The musical performances are interwoven with the musicians’ individual stories, each of which has at its core the struggle to find personal expression when one’s profession requires performance as part of an ensemble. Ultimately, the film attempts to break down the barriers that have long separated orchestra musicians and their audiences, and get to the essence of the magic and the mystery of music itself.

Impact

Music From the Inside Out was made possible through the support of numerous individuals and foundations in the Philadelphia area. The Presser Foundation, The Arcadia Foundation, Phoebe Haas Trust, ITVS (Independent Television Service). "MENC is a proud supporter of Music From the Inside Out, one of the most innovative media ventures we've been involved in", says John Mahlmann, Executive Director of MENC, the nation's leading association of music educators with over 90,000 members. "Music From the Inside Out™ will enrich communities nationwide and bring to millions the message of how important music education is for people of all ages. The project's commitment to connect with ongoing school-based music education ensures that the series will benefit children across the nation."

The Community Outreach Initiative was unveiled simultaneously with the distribution of the teaching guides and extended the ideas developed for MUSIC FROM THE INSIDE OUT into the community to create a civic dialogue about the role of music and music education. Music education does not take place just in the classroom, but in a variety of other ways: through the programming of concerts, through the way musicians relate to their audiences, and how music and musical resources are integrated into the life of the community.

The centerpiece of the outreach effort was a series of workshops led by esteemed arts educator Eric Booth of Juilliard. With an assembled gathering of community cultural leaders, arts educators and others, Booth used excerpts from the film as a springboard to have a dialogue about the role of music and music education in the community.

These seminars were open to anyone who had a stake in music and learning. Participants looked at innovative models of music education around the country and, with the help of Mr. Booth, developed ways in which their communities could start to incorporate these principles in their own musical outreach efforts. Seminars were designed to help participants focus on what was artistically valuable in music. They explored ways in which an untrained listener can understand elements of music and follow those elements throughout a piece. Participants discussed how to translate these ideas into a concrete, experiential activity that got people thinking about and experiencing music in new ways.