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ARTS & CULTURE
ARTS & CULTURE
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“I was doing a children’s program and was actually at an elementary school,”
says world-renowned pianist Leon Bates as he began his story. “We were in
the gym and had a little upright piano, and all the kids were sitting on the
floor around me, and one kid asked ‘How long have you been playing the
piano?’ I had this little funny look in my eyes and I said, ‘I’ve been playing
the piano for 50 years.’ And these kids eyes got real big and their mouths
dropped open and they said, ‘50 years is half a century!’ They were looking
at me like, ‘how old is this guy?’” he says, laughing.
Leon, who began studying music at the tender age of six playing the piano
and violin, has accomplished so much in 50 years it makes one wonder how
he’s found time, or the energy, to fit it all in one lifetime. His career has
allowed him to play in the most prestigious concert halls around the world
says world-renowned pianist Leon Bates as he began his story. “We were in
the gym and had a little upright piano, and all the kids were sitting on the
floor around me, and one kid asked ‘How long have you been playing the
piano?’ I had this little funny look in my eyes and I said, ‘I’ve been playing
the piano for 50 years.’ And these kids eyes got real big and their mouths
dropped open and they said, ‘50 years is half a century!’ They were looking
at me like, ‘how old is this guy?’” he says, laughing.
Leon, who began studying music at the tender age of six playing the piano
and violin, has accomplished so much in 50 years it makes one wonder how
he’s found time, or the energy, to fit it all in one lifetime. His career has
allowed him to play in the most prestigious concert halls around the world
have to give is the result of the
training I received in the years I
was at the school.”
Some of Bates’ biggest musical
influences include legendary
musicians like Rudolph Serkin,
Author Rubenstein, Ramsey Lewis
and Vladimir Horowitz.
But it’s his personal influence,
along with the inspiration he gives
to children that help foster and
develop a next generation of
talented musicians.
“I feel that it’s important to be a
part of a continuity,” he says. “We
have ongoing generations of
young people who are learning
instruments and they come into
this world as talented people. For
every group of people who are
musically talented, somewhere
along the line they were inspired
training I received in the years I
was at the school.”
Some of Bates’ biggest musical
influences include legendary
musicians like Rudolph Serkin,
Author Rubenstein, Ramsey Lewis
and Vladimir Horowitz.
But it’s his personal influence,
along with the inspiration he gives
to children that help foster and
develop a next generation of
talented musicians.
“I feel that it’s important to be a
part of a continuity,” he says. “We
have ongoing generations of
young people who are learning
instruments and they come into
this world as talented people. For
every group of people who are
musically talented, somewhere
along the line they were inspired
by an older generation of people—teachers, performers—who they were
exposed to as young people, and these are the people who helped them to
arrive at these levels of achievement and maturation, and I think that what I’
m doing is continuing in that tradition.”
He continued explaining that as music professionals, it’s a part of their jobs
to display their abilities to young people by doing various programs at
schools and talking with kids, presenting them with a light of inspiration and
direction. Bates makes note that music is a process of growth, and finding
challenges to create compelling performances are a part of how musicians
mature and become some of the best.
“Music does so much in terms of helping to develop the individual spirit,”
Leon says. “I think it’s great for children to develop a sense of imagination
and giving them an opportunity to get their brains working and exercise
their minds to be able to create images and ideas in their heads. Music
helps in that direction. I think it helps people how to think as individuals,
and develop their minds so they can allow themselves to be free thinking
spirits.”
exposed to as young people, and these are the people who helped them to
arrive at these levels of achievement and maturation, and I think that what I’
m doing is continuing in that tradition.”
He continued explaining that as music professionals, it’s a part of their jobs
to display their abilities to young people by doing various programs at
schools and talking with kids, presenting them with a light of inspiration and
direction. Bates makes note that music is a process of growth, and finding
challenges to create compelling performances are a part of how musicians
mature and become some of the best.
“Music does so much in terms of helping to develop the individual spirit,”
Leon says. “I think it’s great for children to develop a sense of imagination
and giving them an opportunity to get their brains working and exercise
their minds to be able to create images and ideas in their heads. Music
helps in that direction. I think it helps people how to think as individuals,
and develop their minds so they can allow themselves to be free thinking
spirits.”
and play with some of the most critically acclaimed orchestras and
symphony’s known on earth. He’s garnered countless awards for music and
humanitarian efforts, while performing to vast audiences on television and
radio, both nationally and internationally.
But out of all his accomplishments, one thing about Bates that is most
commendable are his continuous efforts to give back to his community and
encourage the youth. One of his biggest charitable contributions goes to
his high school alma mater, Settlement Music School in Philadelphia.
“I have been very close to Settlement since I left there,” Bates said.
“Settlement has always been very close to me in terms of my direction and
training and so many of the good connections I made there. I feel so much I
symphony’s known on earth. He’s garnered countless awards for music and
humanitarian efforts, while performing to vast audiences on television and
radio, both nationally and internationally.
But out of all his accomplishments, one thing about Bates that is most
commendable are his continuous efforts to give back to his community and
encourage the youth. One of his biggest charitable contributions goes to
his high school alma mater, Settlement Music School in Philadelphia.
“I have been very close to Settlement since I left there,” Bates said.
“Settlement has always been very close to me in terms of my direction and
training and so many of the good connections I made there. I feel so much I
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