Using music to create peace

Music brings people together and makes them feel greater than the sum of their parts. Music can empower and inspire people to work together to accomplish goals and achieve visions unimagined by individuals acting alone. Music can be used in a number of ways to prevent conflict and promote peace.

This presentation will highlight three ways in which music can be used to promote peace. First, as so well demonstrated over decades by Pete Seeger, who died earlier this year, collective singing of peace songs can empower and inspire people so that they feel that together they can promote and maintain peace. Second, as demonstrated by concerts of travelling symphony orchestras and concerts of classical music sponsored by peace organizations like the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), music can open dialogue between countries and can promote peace between countries that have previously been at war. And third, music ensembles, such as orchestras or chorales, composed of musicians or vocalists from countries in conflict with each other – such as the orchestra comprised of Israelis and Palestinians – can promote peace and understanding among people and nations.