"Il non poter essere soddisfatto da alcuna cosa terrena, né, per dir così, della terra intera; considerare l'ampiezza inestimabile dello spazio, il numero e la mole meravigliosa dei mondi, e trovare che tutto è poco e piccino alla capacità dell'animo proprio; immaginarsi il numero dei mondi infinito, e l'universo infinito, e sentire che l'animo e il desiderio nostro sarebbe ancora più grande che sì fatto universo; e sempre accusare le cose d'insufficienza e di nullità, e patire mancamento e vòto, e però noia, pare a me il maggior segno di grandezza e di nobiltà, che si vegga nella natura umana". G. Leopardi

lunedì 26 maggio 2014

For Sarah

This is my old blog and I've decided to write here what I'd like to tell you because I prefer not to use Facebook: I don't want to mess up my private life with the ones of my pupils/students - I'm sure you understand the importance of privacy :) - and I think that educational relationships need not to be virtual.
I apologize for my English...

This thing I am writing about is probably a unique experience and I'm quite proud it's a friend of mine's idea: it's Toffo, the one who helped me with the present. He is a Philosophy and History teacher in high school (and a graduated classical guitarist) and, together with a colleague, he organized a course about history of rock in monographs, a sort of "Who's made rock history?".
They studied and explained to students The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Springsteen, The Smiths, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Radiohead and Arcade Fire, trying to understand what music and lyrics can communicate. They've presente Arcade Fire as the ones that will probably be remembered in 30 years as a turning point in music.
At the end of the course they invited the students to Arcade Fire's concert on June, 24th, to see and hear live what they've studied at school: some of them are coming! (Going to a rock concert with teachers... And that's what I am too)

That's it: I wanted to let you know that Arcade Fire are rising to the dignity of high school subject and - most interesting I think - that your art is helping young people learn to think. I would like to say it better but my English isn't good enough. (I thought of writing in French...)
We will see and hear you here in Italy, then! I think the students would be glad to greet you (me too!) but I think also that you may be very busy that day: you just know we'll be there and you can text me on Twitter if you think you'll have time to say hello.

I wish you all the best