Renowned Violinist Itzhak Perlman spoke and performed for a sold out crowd in Rapid City Thursday night.
The 16-time Grammy Award winner stresses the importance of learning music as a young child.
Itzhak Perlman played violin on the Ed Sullivan show before he was legally old enough to drive.
Perlman gave a speech on the “Power of Passion,” and the importance of music for youth. He says music comes natural for children and they can develop talent for music at a young age.
He says it’s terrible that music education is getting cut across the country.
“When they say you have to cut because we don’t have money, the first thing that goes is music education—that’s horrible. Music education is just as important as any other kind of education—just as important as taking history and taking math and taking science”
Perlman started his music career as a child prodigy on the violin and continued to play with some of the most renowned ensembles.
Perlman says he supports widespread public music education.
“When you listen to something, and you’re able to be moved by a musical phrase—and so on—that makes you a better person, makes you a more well rounded person... We’re just not going to be as good if there’s no music around.”
Perlman says music is the soul of society, and that without we cease to be human.
The John T Vucurevich foundation brought Perlman to Rapid City as a part of their annual speaker series.