Location: Arizona

Website: http://www.jonathanbest.com

While I was touring the world with David Byrne of Talking Heads I thought I had finally made it into the musical world I had been seeking all my life. When I received a dishonorable discharge just before my next tour (with a different band) I was devastated until I received Jim Oshinsky's book "Return to Child" and a new light entered my life. I immediately enrolled in Music for People's Musicianship and Leadership Program. During the next four years I also made frequent trips to Kenya to work with the Maasai. Both of these experiences taught me that participatory music is a necessary ingredient for sustainablecommunities.

Like Duke Ellington, music used to be my mistress. But then we got married and had children. Music is also my garden. It provides food for the community. And it needs to be nurtured daily. And like food it needs to be shared.

My mission in life is to spread participatory music wherever it can go. Right now I am offering playshops
the first Sunday of each month from 6 to 7:30 pm and other days as well in Prescott, AZ. I also offer classes in improvisation through Prescott College. I teach one on one classes in all instruments. My main instruments are piano, voice and percussion. I feel that learning to appreciate one's own sound is applicable to all instruments though and is a prerequisite for creatively moving into uncharted waters, so I am happy to work with anyone on any instrument they would like to pursue further.