We find ourselves in a time of great transition. Western civilization, driven by the forces of consumerism, is in the process of choking the planetary ecosystem. The international systems forged after the great human suffering of the twentieth century are severely strained, while traditional disparate value systems fight to maintain relevance in an increasingly strange new world. There is a great need in western civilization for a rejuvenation of culture that enlivens our hope in the future and strengthens our commitment to deepening our compassion and service to humankind.

Looking through the lens of human development and potential, we ultimately see this crisis as one of arrested human development. Western psychology knows that human beings continue to grow through our life cycles. We grow in many different ways; emotionally, relationally, ethically, and metacognivelly. Metacognition is important for human growth at its higher reaches - when we take a perspective on our perspective we see more. Solving the world’s problems is going to require a new kind of human perspective taking.

One Big Band’s inception comes from supporting our metacrsis through the skillful means of a music as a therapeutic modality, specifically a psycho-educational mechanism. Countless dedicated musicians and teachers throughout history felt that the power of music would help sustain and enable people to be the best that we can be.

Music, as the language of the soul, if done strategically, can scaffold it’s listeners towards a deeper understanding of themselves (psychoeducation) and perspective taking (stage development).

Without a change in the values driving culture, consumerism and nihilism can only lead to a dark future. Technology promises us a new world. However, without the evolution of human consciousness the technological advances are likely to only speed up the current process of fragmentation. From a whole- systems perspective this crisis is a synchronistic moment of a new birth. All psychological, biological, cultural and systemic changes are coming together to support the necessity of birthing a new cultural movement.

Music must be at the heart of this - as it has an enormous influence on its listeners.