Music for People

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Music for People is a non-profit organization established by David Darling (1941-2021) and Bonnie Insull in 1986. The organization is mostly U.S.-based but there is also a European chapter in Switzerland.

It currently coordinates a network of musical facilitators who organize workshops based on common principles, which were summarized in the…

Bill of Musical Rights

#1 Human beings need to express themselves daily in a way that invites physical and emotional release.

#2 Musical self-expression is a joyful and healthy means of communication available to absolutely everyone.

#3 There are as many different ways to make music as there are people.

#4 The human voice is the most natural and powerful vehicle for musical self-expression. The differences in our voices add richness and depth to music.

#5 Sincerely expressed emotion is at the root of meaningful musical expression.

#6 Your music is more authentically expressed when your body is involved in your musical expression.

#7 The European tradition of music is only one sound. All other cultures and traditions deserve equal attention.

#8 Any combination of people and instruments can make music together.

#9 There are no "unmusical" people, only those with no musical experience.

#10 Music improvisation is a unique and positive way to build skills for life-expression.

#11 In improvisation as in life, we must be responsible for the vibrations we send one another.


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