Good Morning Anne:

It was wonderful seeing and hearing you on Tuesday night. Needless to say, I played the CD all the way home. As you know, I absolutely had to buy two copies of "It's a Beautiful Life" because my previous copy was completely worn out. I never realized that you could "wear out" a CD until I took "It's a Beautiful Life" to my classroom about a year ago. I actually took the CD to the classroom for my own use. I would "pop it in" the tape player in the Listening Center after the children left for the day and listen as I straightened up the room or completed paperwork. I would often leave the CD in the player at the end of the workday. I began to notice that when the children rotated through the Listening Center, they would choose to leave your CD in the player rather than switch to another.

I found this interesting and important because you see, these are very special children. Our classroom is located at one of seven high schools in the District and there are only four classrooms like ours in the District. The children range in age from 15 to 21. They are all handicapped in multiple ways. Some are hearing impaired, some have severe medical problems, some have severe physical challenges, not everyone talks, and all are developmentally delayed. However, each child has a strong personality, can communicate in some way, and loves music. We sing every day in our group activities.

Students are encouraged to bring their favorite CD's and cassette tapes from home to play in the listening center. We put them all in a basket and the children are given free choice when it's their turn. Though we often heard "The Lion King", "Barney's Sing-a-long", and "100 Children's Songs", there was no clear favorite. However, once the class discovered your CD, all that changed.

I soon noticed that "It's a Beautiful Life" stayed in the player all day every day. I noticed that the children were swaying or "bobbing" in time to the music. I was especially impressed because this is the first "grown-up" CD that they have chosen to listen to. I was impressed with how carefully they handled the CD when putting it in the player or putting it away at the end of the day. Clearly this is something that is important to them. So now I know that if you play a CD for several hours every day for a year, you can wear it out. Hence then need to buy another copy for myself and one for the classroom.

Thank you for making and sharing such beautiful music with all of us. You have brought something very special into the lives of some very special children.

-- Joan
 
"Hey Anne- I was blown away with your music on Ocracoke at the festival...  and met you briefly with my good friend Ruth Fordon. (she gave me your e-mail)  I hope that life is treating you well... you sure do touch the soul with  your  words and music... thank you.   I have come "home" to the water and have been  living on a farm with my husband for 15 years in the middle of our state...   Your music is a part of my transition as we sell the animals, commute, will sell  the farm...
I want to hear you again - somewhere... If you can let me know your  schedule - I'd appreciate it. Take care of yourself.... and thank you..."  -- Libby