After the concert, and before the new session of auditions and other madness begins, I get reflective. This week, I am doing a little bit of self-analysis.

Quite bluntly, I wish I were a better person. In my bio–almost all my bios–it speaks of my interest in the arts for those with disabilities. I wish I could say that interest came naturally–it didn’t. I became interested in those with disabilities only because I became a mother of someone with a disability. And, I wanted my son to have opportunities to perform and learn about music and, really, to have music in his life, like his non-disabled brothers.

I used music as tool when Russell was young to teach him things. I found he listened and focused better if I sang a request or he calmed down if I put on some Bach. When he was older, I insisted he become a music inclusion student. I can honestly say, music changed his life, gave him an interest in something and helped him gain some control of his emotions.

If I was a better person, perhaps I would have realized children with disabilities could benefit from music. Perhaps, having Russell in my life has made me a better person, and for that, I am grateful.