LEAF Schools & Streets

For the past few weeks, our class has had the incredible opportunity to work with several different middle and elementary schools in Buncombe county through the LEAF Organization. LEAF is a non-profit organization out of Black Mountain, North Carolina. The motto on their website reads: connecting cultures and creating community through music and arts. Based on what I have observed, this is an incredibly apt descriptor of the affect that LEAF has on communities on young people in the Asheville area. I had the pleasure of visiting a sixth grade classroom at Asheville Middle School to introduce them to Cajun, Creole and Zydeco style musician Cedric Watson. Upon first entering the classroom, the excitement of the students was almost palpable. The kids were engaged and enthusiastic as we presented to the class. Having never heard the term "Zydeco" before, the students were curious about the origins of the word and the style of music and dance. After watching a video of a couple at a Zydeco dance and listening to a recording of Cedric Watson and the Bijou Creole (which they played along to on cardboard washboards), they were extremely eager to experience and participate in the music firsthand at the LEAF Festival.

A week later, my group returned to the middle school classroom to observe Mr. Watson and the kids practicing their performance. It was truly inspiring to watch the four-time grammy nominated musician interacting with the students as if they were his peers, and it was obvious that the students highly admired him. Mr. Watson played his accordion and sang along with the students to lyrics that they had been learning throughout the week. We listened in astonishment as a couple of the sixth graders fearlessly belted out short solos in French, occasionally making mistakes but laughing them off with an air of poise that seemed impressively mature for their age. The confidence that all of the students exuded as they sang was definitely a product of having been able to work closely with an accomplished musician, and I was incredibly excited at the prospected of seeing them perform in front of a crowd that coming weekend.

Saturday finally arrived, and it was a perfect, crisp fall morning. Mr. Watson performed a couple songs before the students of Asheville Middle School took to the main stage with him. They performed beautifully and were very visibly enjoying themselves. Afterwards, the kids chattered loudly among themselves, an excited, nervous energy about them. Several of them mentioned how much fun performing was and how they hoped to be able to do it again someday. Many talked about being nervous beforehand but how happy they were that they had been able to perform. This is what is so special about LEAF Schools and Streets. It gives children such a unique opportunity to learn about cultures that they might never have been exposed to otherwise. LEAF gives kids experiences that instills a confidence in them that is needed in order for them to push themselves out of their comfort zones. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the chance to work with these kids and observe an experience that will surely be influential to their futures.