Purple Songs Can Fly Project
Encyclopedia
Purple Songs Can Fly Project is a non-profit organization
that sponsors a music
program at the Texas Children's Cancer Center
in Houston
, Texas
. It allows patients at the hospital to compose and record songs in a real studio
.
The program was founded in March 2006 by Anita Kruse, a songwriter
and pianist
. The Love Street Light Circus donated $10,000 to build a studio at the hospital. As of January 2009, patients have recorded over 116 songs.
According to David Poplack
, "the arts have therapeutic value" and can improve the recovery of the patients.
In 2007, seven songs created through Purple Songs Can Fly were burned on purple CDs and were then played on Continental Airlines
flights.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that sponsors a music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
program at the Texas Children's Cancer Center
Texas Children's Cancer Center
Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers is the largest pediatric oncology and blood disease center in the United States. U.S. News & World Report ranked the cancer center #1 in Texas and #4 in the United States. It is located in Houston, Texas....
in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It allows patients at the hospital to compose and record songs in a real studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
.
The program was founded in March 2006 by Anita Kruse, a songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. The Love Street Light Circus donated $10,000 to build a studio at the hospital. As of January 2009, patients have recorded over 116 songs.
According to David Poplack
David Poplack
David Poplack is the Director of the Texas Children's Cancer Center at Texas Children's Hospital.He is Principal Investigator of the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics NIH-funded Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit, Principal Investigator of an NCI K12 Pediatric Oncology Clinical...
, "the arts have therapeutic value" and can improve the recovery of the patients.
In 2007, seven songs created through Purple Songs Can Fly were burned on purple CDs and were then played on Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
flights.