Sinanume School

Our first venture on Wednesday in Quito was to visit the Sinanume School, which was founded by the best trumpet player in Ecuador. He is now 85, but when he founded this school, it was with the intent to provide Downs Syndrome children and children with disabilities with an educational experience that includes two hours per day of music instruction. Many of the students are older adults, a few are blind, and many have learning issues, but the music helps their brains learn and adjust. The symphony they gave us included four or five Downs Syndrome who danced several dances, including a bull fighting song. The group played some traditional Ecuadorean songs, a few songs from the US, La Bamba, and Frank Sinatra's My Way. The rendition of My Way really highlighted the founder of the group - and I believe that at one point he really was the best trumpeter in Ecuador. We danced to When the Saints go Marching In, and the last song, Don was invited to dance with one of the students. Soon most of us were dancing, and the students were delighted. The School receives some funding from the Great Circle Foundation, which is the Foundation started by the group with whom we are traveling, Overseas Advanture Travel. The Foundation sponsors projects around the world, and we have been able to experience two of them.