To my former students from Langley,

I would like to express my thanks to all those who have written, attended the reunion, phoned or emailed me, and also to those who took part in the recordings but are just now finding out about the wondrous recent developments. Meeting so many of my former students, reading your moving letters, and hearing you sing again on the CD have been the most rewarding parts of this experience.

It's been said that music is the language of the soul singing. If that's true, then our souls were captured together on those recordings. This music was not made for profit, or even necessarily to entertain, but simply to express a feeling, to explore and to play together.

Meeting many of you at the VH-1 taping was a blast, and hearing you sing again was moving beyond words. What beautiful people you have become. Seeing how many of you have become musicians, recording engineers, singers in community choirs or players in bands is unbelievable. As for the former students who have not gone on to musical careers but who have expressed their graditude for having been part of something like this -- the idea that everyone is musical has always been central to the way I teach and my view towards music.

For some of you, these recordings bring back times that may not have been idyllic. As adults, we reflect on childhood as a carefree time, but the truth is often different. I hope that the experience of making the music was a highlight of your childhood. I know that for me, making music was and is a constant in my life. For all of you, as kids and as adults, making this music is something that you have accomplished. You have made this music your own, and making music your own is what every musician dreams of. You accomplished it as children. I am so proud of you all.

cheers
--Hans Fenger
February 24, 2002


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