Music and the Arts

Music welcomes us from the time we are born with our mothers' songs, it accompanies children's games, it is linked to social celebrations, important occasions, specific individuals, and is even inseparable from cinema and television. This musical universe which surrounds us improves our quality of life, livening up tedious activities, facilitating our relations with others, transmitting cultural values or channelling our emotions. Nevertheless, the enjoyment of music is not limited to merely listening intently to its melodies but rather the opportunity it offers to participate actively in it: through dancing, singing, or playing a musical instrument.

Everyone must have the right to access this precious asset in any of its forms. Playing an instrument contributes to the all-over education of human beings, developing people who can realise the full potential of their abilities and creativity. In this direction the Foundation is moving decisively to facilitate access to musical practice for people with some disability, whether physical, cognitive or sensory. Many of these people, with the right adaptation (either in their instruments, thanks to the knowledge of their masters, or the choice of musical pieces adapted to their needs) could become competent musicians, perhaps not necessarily professional but certainly aficionados, as are most of the music students in this country. Thus, they could enjoy music from the inside, strumming their notes and not only getting excited about this but also gaining the opportunity to transmit emotion through their playing.

The Music Books for Disabled Persons offer what is totally new material in Spain; a truly admirable work because it unites the efforts of renowned contemporary composers who create their works to be accessible to people with a right-hand disability. This limitation has been nothing but an incentive and a challenge for them when composing these pieces of outstanding artistic value presented in this collection, which is open to musicians all over the world due to the universal nature of its compositions.

María José Salgueiro Cortiñas
Councillor for the Arts and Tourism
Junta de Castilla y León