When Lilburn Middle School’s orchestra director, Julian Gonzalez came to see Adam Crane at his teaching studio in suburban Atlanta, an amazing project was born. Julian came for string teaching guidance, although an experienced saxophone and flute player who enthusiastically has lived a life in education and now approaching his youthful upper fifties, he wanted to give his kids more!

 

What began as outlines and guiding Mr. Gonzalez and his classes, grew into something much greater than imagined. True, Adam had always said that one day he would honor the requests made by colleagues, students and their parents, and write a string teacher’s guide. But why?

 

Adam Crane has been in the classical music world as a performer, professor, advocate, conductor, composer, lecturer, curriculum consultant, and music educator of students age 3 - 83+, and has been listening.  Listening to what? For decades, Adam has been focusing his attention to listening more keenly to what his students and their families have been saying. How classical music was dying. (Refusing to accept this, he began to think, and create.)

 

To summarize, many people have forgotten that through music, society is elevated. What happened to the principle that music is the vehicle that heightens communication, compassion, cooperation, multi-generational bridging of gaps via sharing of timeless knowledge, consistently anchored with unyielding enthusiasm in today’s education?

 

This is what is needed: Evolution of the human race as a unified entity, without the race against each other, but more importantly the quest for personal and collective success – the want to try your best and share this spirit for learning, through dedicated inclusive and positive expression.

 

The Quest is designed to infuse new life into the enjoyment of learning. This is accomplished through utilizing a scholarly and fun game-structured format, bringing about total immersion in the process of learning for both the educator and students --  Cooperative Engagement tHrough Positive Discovery.

 

Adam got busy! He decided that if his method was going to make a difference, it needed to be scholarly and thorough, but in the process needed to reach people in a positive and engaging way. Over a dozen charismatic and knowledgeable musical cartoon characters serve as Quest faculty. These friendly Concept-Characters present all material in creative ways that motivate and challenge everyone. Educators and their students are excited about learning, seeking higher and higher levels of mastery.

 

The author knew in his heart something powerful was needed in order to keep music alive and bring the value of how music is integral in main stream curriculum back to the forefront of our minds and as a result strive to improve community harmony too.

This is what was behind the creation of the Quest and continues to propel its success going forward.