Interview:

Nonverbal communication has the capacity to touch tender emotions in ways that are quite unique. By listening to fine music, reading great literature, savoring lofty artworks, one experiences a sense of love and peace.

When one has the advantage of a fine music education curriculum in the public and private schools as a youngster, one has a great advantage of experiencing love and forgiveness in the formative years. When this is not offered, one can seek out such experience on one’s own. A practical way is using the library to discover books, recordings, and videos to expand one’s artistic capacity. Of course, it’s great when one’s parents or guardians are supportive and encouraging. By learning to play a musical instrument or learning to sing in a group further allows one the unique experience of performing together. The experience of creating beautiful music that makes listeners happy, inspired, and elated has a loving effect on the performer. By focusing on that which is loving can itself result in enhancing one’s own capacity to love and to forgive.

All of the above qualities have played an invaluable part of my personal life. I studied a musical instrument through private lessons early on, then attended fine concerts, visited art museums, and went to great theater. This continued throughout my adult life, and I feel most fortunate for this. My emotions are pretty much kept at an even keel, not going too high or too low, and I tend to look for the most positive sides of any situation. I value art greatly, as it has helped to shape my character in ways which are both loving and forgiving. For this I’m forever grateful.

 “I value art greatly, as it has helped to shape my character in ways which are both loving and forgiving. For this I’m forever grateful.”
– H. Leslie Adams, Composer, Educator & Pianist