2008 Woodie Awards
All eyes on Gregory Jones
Michelle Martin
Issue date: 8/17/08 Section: TruLife
For instance, Jones said he noticed that students in countries, such as Albania, don't have the easy access to instruments and music that American students often don't think about.
"It's really sad," he said. "It's something we take for granted over here, and you go over there and even the simplest little things they don't have."
Jones said he makes a point to historically and culturally understand a country when he visits someplace new.
"My favorite part is probably learning about how these people have come to where they are now," he said. "… If you want to understand people's heart and music, you have to understand their lives."
Jones visited Albania for the second time this summer to perform in concerts, he said. He said he still found the country to be eye-opening.
Despite the language barriers between Jones and many of his foreign peers, playing music enables a profound connection to be formed, he said.
"I can't speak their language, and they can't speak English," he said, "… But then you can experience music together and it's a form of communication that's instantaneous, and it can be very deep."
Jones said he thinks music can open doors to other types of communication between conflicting cultures.
"I was talking about getting a group of musicians together from these countries in the Balkans," he said. "For instance, Serbia and Albania don't get along at all … so I was thinking, put Serbia and Albania in the same musical group [to] promote understanding."
Members of the U.S. embassy in Kosovo have expressed interest in the idea, which Jones said could happen in the near future.
Jones also brings back new music and ideas from these various countries for his students to experience, he said.
"Right now I'm working on a recording of all the music I've been to from all of these places," he said. "We can share this music with a wider audience outside of Kirksville."
Jones said he plans on traveling more in the near future, such as a trip to England in May to teach a class on the British Invasion. He doesn't plan on stopping his travels anytime soon, he said.
"It's not just about music," he said. "It's about learning your place in the world."
"It's really sad," he said. "It's something we take for granted over here, and you go over there and even the simplest little things they don't have."
Jones said he makes a point to historically and culturally understand a country when he visits someplace new.
"My favorite part is probably learning about how these people have come to where they are now," he said. "… If you want to understand people's heart and music, you have to understand their lives."
Jones visited Albania for the second time this summer to perform in concerts, he said. He said he still found the country to be eye-opening.
Despite the language barriers between Jones and many of his foreign peers, playing music enables a profound connection to be formed, he said.
"I can't speak their language, and they can't speak English," he said, "… But then you can experience music together and it's a form of communication that's instantaneous, and it can be very deep."
Jones said he thinks music can open doors to other types of communication between conflicting cultures.
"I was talking about getting a group of musicians together from these countries in the Balkans," he said. "For instance, Serbia and Albania don't get along at all … so I was thinking, put Serbia and Albania in the same musical group [to] promote understanding."
Members of the U.S. embassy in Kosovo have expressed interest in the idea, which Jones said could happen in the near future.
Jones also brings back new music and ideas from these various countries for his students to experience, he said.
"Right now I'm working on a recording of all the music I've been to from all of these places," he said. "We can share this music with a wider audience outside of Kirksville."
Jones said he plans on traveling more in the near future, such as a trip to England in May to teach a class on the British Invasion. He doesn't plan on stopping his travels anytime soon, he said.
"It's not just about music," he said. "It's about learning your place in the world."
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