Mozart knew the flute could be magical, but Sam Golter only found out last summer, while teaching Haitian youth in that island nation still recovering from a massive earthquake in January 2010.
At the request of six of his beginning students, Golter taught them to play the melody from “My Heart Will Go On,” the theme song from the movie “Titanic.” The performance showed Golter how, when all political rhetoric can seem empty, or when charitable donations dry up, there is one thing that can uplift the soul above it all, motivating, inspiring and sustaining real hope.
Golter helped his students experience the transforming power of music.
“It gave them purpose and direction,” said Golter, 21, a music student at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis. “That’s what music has the potential to be.”
Teaching music was the highlight of Golter’s four weeks at the Dessaix-Baptiste Music School in Jacmel.
The Haitian school, which won recognition from first lady Michelle Obama last year, is one in a network of music schools in Haiti greatly impacted by the earthquake. Buildings were damaged; instruments were rendered unplayable. It was especially bad in the capital of Port-Au-Prince at the Holy Trinity Music School. When the music stopped, Lawrence University, known for its world-class conservatory, took action.
Cello professor Janet Anthony had long helped Haitian children come to America to study at Lawrence. But the earthquake, which killed more than 200,000 Haitians, refocused attention on the island nation. Within nine days of the tragedy, Lawrence put on the “Concert for Haiti,” which was broadcast across Wisconsin. More than $30,000 was raised to help reconstruction efforts.
