The Ananda Living Wisdom School began last Wednesday, with more than 70 students from preschool through college enrolled! As the music director for the school, they asked me to lead everyone in singing the school theme song, written by Swami Kriyananda, entitled “Sing in the Meadows.” The words and music speak beautifully to what we try to impart:

Sing in the meadows and ev’rywhere:
Sing out a blessing to ev’ryone!
Lift up your voices, Lift your hands on high.
Sing and the battle is won.

What is needed in any quest for success? The ability to raise your energy to meet challenges. What is needed to find true happiness? An expansion of awareness and sympathies – when we bless others, we in turn are blessed by the expansion of our own consciousness.

Music plays a crucial role in the school, and I am lucky enough to work with all the classes. In our high school choir we began work on Handel’s Halleluiah Chorus today, if you can believe it! There are about 22 enrolled from 7th – 12th grade, and yet last spring we were able to put on a production of The Sound of Music. Needless to say, there are many many talented students!

We work a great deal with the music of Swami Kriyananda in all the grades, not from a dogmatic “this is what we do” approach, but because the kids love to sing the songs, and it works! When the classes are done, the energy in the room has changed, and the kids have touched something deeper than just pretty melodies and interesting rhythms – they are able to feel the inspiration behind the songs, whether it be love, high energy, joy, or peace.

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