Also, Matt auditioned young Ghanian musicians to receive 4 scholarships to Berklee's 5-Week Summer Performance Program. Berklee is paying room, board and tuition and the Rita Marley Foundation is paying their airfare. It was an amazing experience to see the depth of talented musicians in Ghana. Most players have had very very little formal training and despite this, by pure drive, inspiration and hard work, have developed their skills to a very high level. We very much look forward to these 4 musicians at Berklee this summer. It could be well be life changing experience for them!!

7/06: Two students were chosen (Victor Day and Joanna Denaka) to attend this summer and the other two will attend next summer. They are doing GREAT!! Stay tuned for press on their progress.

9/06
Victor and Joanna did very well and learned quite a bit. Victor was also awarded a FULL SCHOLARSHIP to Berklee!! He is now in the midst of making up his mind to come to Berklee or not. It wouldn't be till next year. Congrats to Victor!
The two students generated quite alot of attention in the Boston press. Below are two radio spots.
Voice Of America
WBUR, National Public Radio

...and here are links to the official Rita and Bob Marley Foundation sites:
Africa Unite-Ghana.org
Scholarship Info and Student Listing
Bob Marley Foundation Website

Bob Marley was quite intent on the fact that his music was (and of course, is) a lot more than just music because, on one hand, it teaches the people by bringing to consciousness certain truths, yet, on the other, he would often say, "If I were educated, I'd be a damn fool!"

In this session, professor Matt Jenson of Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA. USA) will discuss how music, and Bob Marley's music in particular, serves vitally in an educational role because of its CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING INTENT that was born in and continues to thrive in an atmosphere of positive vibration and LOVE. Professor Jenson will compare and contrast this with the lower level belief system, based on fear, hate, domination politics and financial gain (greed), that unfortunately steers the actions of many if not most institutions (and a great many individuals) on the earth, and even finds its way into the educational mind set. The discussion will take a close look at how Bob Marley's music was directly informed by the circumstances in his life and how he distilled a universal message of resistance, cross-cultural inclusion, and REAL FREEDOM into his poetic lyrics and, with the aid of the fine musicians in his band, into the feel of the music itself.

Professor Jenson teaches a first of its kind performance studies class at Berklee entitled, "The Music and Life of Bob Marley," where an ensemble of 15 auditioned musicians not only play professor Jenson's arrangements of Marley's music but also learn about his amazing life. Mr. Jenson will include in his discussion, perspectives on his experience in teaching this exciting class.

Often, discussion and analysis of any topic, and especially of music, will strip the full meaning of the artistic expression. Music carries such incredible power precisely because it reaches individuals and entire societies on multiple levels. All at once the listener hears the lyrics, follows the melody, feels the riddim: it's direct spiritual vibration that mere discussion can never attempt to accomplish. With this in mind, Professor Jenson will host a Bob Marley jam session later on the evening of the symposium!