On the evening of November 7, there was a performance hall full of excitement. Everyone sat in the audience with a bright smile and chatted happily, sharing greetings with each other. It was the night of the WITH CONCERT, and for violinist Lee Dong Hyun(2nd degree of developmental disability) it was the first recital in his life.

 

 

WITH CONCERT is a stage that spreads the message that the disabled can do it too. This night, the performers with developmental disabilities such as autism and intellectual disabilities, hold a recital for the first time in their lives. One of the musicians taking part in this event has developed both social skills and musical skills through the Heart to Heart Symphony Orchestra (hereinafter "Heart to Heart Orchestra"), which was founded by the Heart to Heart Foundation. People with developmental disabilities need to repeat practice thousands of times to play one song, as even the trivial task of tying a shoelace takes years for them to learn. To this end, the combined efforts of parents and mentors as well as the performers themselves are absolutely necessary. Dong-hyun Lee, who participated in this concert, would sometimes concentrate so much on studying music sheets in the car that his mother would often stay on the road without purpose to prolongate that time for her son.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

In 2008, I got to know the Heart to Heart Foundation by chance and even became part of the Advisory Board, and since then I have participated in various events such as the Master Class. I was impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm of the members of the Heart to Heart Orchestra and their parents, and especially of the teachers who work there, and it led me to participate in this concert. Maybe it was because I often talk with the members and parents, but I was asked to be part of the performance this time. Dong-hyun Lee, our star of the WITH CONCERT, has a hard time focusing during everyday life, but he becomes very mature when he plays his instrument. I am proud to be part of the first recital for this talented youth who has an excellent level of performance.

 

 

 

I am now very familiar with the habits of children with developmental disabilities. However, my wife, a pianist who played with me this time, was a little taken aback when a member suddenly went up to her and asked, "What yo' name?" during the first rehearsal. She was surprised to see that I responded like it was not a big deal. I know how she felt because also did not know what to do when I first met the children. It was my first experience with such members and I was not aware enough about developmental disabilities. I believe that the most important thing is not teaching them knowledge or skills, but truly understanding them from their standpoint. We need to make efforts to get closer to and more familiar with them. They are just a little different from us.

 

 

 

Learning how to play instruments requires a high level of patience and concentration. They also learn how to work together and sometimes even yield to each other through the community of the orchestra. I think these qualities have a positive impact on children with developmental disabilities, since they normally have difficulty getting along well with others.

 

 

 

Both constant interest and support are key. Awareness-raising education on a national scale is very important. In this diverse society, children should be educated from a young age so that they do not discriminate against people with disabilities. I hope everyone understands from early on that being considerate is an essential quality for making a society that is for everyone.