Maestro Piotr Gajewski conducts
National Philharmonic at Strathmore.

JOSHUA COGAN
Music is a
universal language.

— GAJEWSKI
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
“Start playing music for your kids,”
explained Gajewski. “All kinds of
music. When they are very, very
young. And that will help them
naturally cultivate an interest in
music.” To help more children experience
live music, Gajewski along with
the National Philharmonic, created
the All Kids, All Free, All the Time
initiative 20 years ago. It allows
Montgomery County children, ages
seven to 17, to attend concerts at the
Music Center free of charge.

The initiative was the organization’s
way of addressing the growing
costs and associated concerns of live
concerts. Cost can be a big deterrent
12 June 2017 washingtonFAMILY.com
for a family looking to
experience the arts.

The organization also
does annual concerts
for all second-grade
students in Montgomery
County, reaching over
12,000 students every
year. Piotr Gajewski, National Philharmonic
Director and Conductor. JAY MALLIN
“The school system has
noticed an increase in
interest in instrumental music in
the school children,” Gajewski said.

“That leads to kids taking music
lessons. And kids taking music
lessons do better in academics than
kids that don’t.”
Whether it is a piano, trumpet,
violin, flute or even the tuba,
Gajewski urges more kids to
experiment with picking up and
playing instruments.

“How well or quickly a kid
progresses really has little to do
with natural talent and more to do
with intensive time spent with the
chosen instrument,” he said. Allow
a child to explore. “If it’s a forced
thing, it’s not nearly as quick or as
rewarding.”



Wacky Science! Zany Tricks!
And TONS of SILLY FUN!
Open May 20 -
September 4!
35 Market Place, Baltimore • PortDiscovery.org
Georgetown Music School
Private lessons
Accelerando Summer Camp | "Melodies Around the World"
Ages 4-12. Full day, 8am-6pm.

July 10-14: East Asia July 31-Aug: North America
July 17-21: Africa
Aug 7-11: South America
July 24-28: West Asia Aug 14-18: Australia & Euro
1616 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 2nd Floor
202-256-9942 info@dcetudes.com
www.dcetudes.com
washingtonFAMILY.com June 2017 13