Of all of the gifts that can be given, one of my favorites is the gift of music.  If you’ve read my work for a while, you know that I love all kinds of music.  For the listener, music relaxes, motivates, inspires, and can reduce people to tears. Music can kindle love and soothe the savage beast within the hearts of men and women.  Heck! Even in some churches, I’ve watched as people quote verses from songs as if they were Scripture but that’s another subject for another time.

However, there is much more to this gift called music that what we listeners benefit from.  There’s also the gift of music that is bestowed on the one we credit as creating the music we love and enjoy.  Some musicians give credit to God, some other spiritual or a muse for their musical gifts.  I think that there is something to that.  I really do.  However, I also think that there has be to the proper tools available in order for the musical gift to come to life.

To me, there is nothing more inspiring than seeing someone discover an instrument and connect with it in a very special way. I’m especially intrigued by those who connect with a guitar.  I guess it has to do with the portability of the instrument that one can benefit from.  A person and their guitar can hole up in their room or go to their special place and just play and develop their craft.

Sadly, there are a lot of kids in the world who don’t have access to the funds to purchase even the cheapest of instruments. Fortunately, there are several great charitable organizations that are working hard to provide free musical education and even free or loaner instruments to help foster a child’s musical talent.  Artists such as legendary guitarist (and new Boomerocity friend), James Burton, established the James Burton Foundation.  Fender Guitar has several avenues under its Fender Outreach program to help instill the gift of music into kids lives.  Gibson Guitar also works in this area via it’s Gibson Foundation.  Also working to develop kid’s musical abilities is Vh1 Save The Music and Charity Music, Inc.

However, if you have a few bucks to spend on a guitar for a kid that you personally know, I would encourage you to check out the Dallas International Guitar Festival next weekend (April  15^th, 16^th and 17^th).  There will be lots of vendors selling guitars from the very cheap to the “if-you-have-to-ask-you-can’t-afford-it” range and everywhere in between.  There will also be performances by many great and inspiring guitarists such as Boomerocity friends Andy Timmons and Quinten Hope and many, many others.

While you’re at it, why not take that kid you know who you think needs a musical instrument to express themselves with and through a guitar along with you?  Who knows what connection they will develop with the guitar? Maybe that connection will get that kid through some very dark times.  Maybe they’ll develop an identity that will bring them out of their shell.  Maybe they’ll realize a worth that they don’t currentMaybe you’ll witness the beginning of something magical and life-changing in the life of that kid and, just quite possibly, the music world.