My name is Tyler Leswing and I am a Senior at Idyllwild Arts Academy - a boarding school focused on developing one's art. I am a songwriter/composer and write mainly on the piano and sing. I have been playing piano for about 10 years. I enjoy writing for all types of instruments and genres. Most recently, I've composed a piece for violin, two cellos, and a clarinet in an intensive 5-week composition class at SF Conservatory. I have also recently attended a Berklee School of Music songwriting/performance workshop in Los Angeles which was as great of an experience as it was last year in Boston. There is nothing more enjoyable than to get a group of songwriters together. I met some really great passionate musicians! 

I have been part of the Children In Need Club for over two years now and I'm thrilled and grateful to continue to be part of this Club, to give back through my music by raising money and awareness to help children in need. Why is CIN so special? It is because it's made up of really dedicated high school musicians that I'm in awe of. Each one that I've met is a passionate and devoted musician and we share not only our love of music but also our wanting to help children in need throughout the world. Children do not have the voice - we do and to be able to help them in any way possible is both gratifying and rewarding for me. I'm just glad I am able to do this through my music. Music is my passion that I want to share with the world. 

This summer, I had the opportunity to pursue a great endeavor with the CIN club. I was a project Leader with Wings Learning Center in Redwood City, working alongside Beth Robinson, a long time Music Therapist, who leads weekly session through the summer with autistic teens, many of which have been with her for years. My CIN colleagues and I had the joy to work with this great group of teens. They were all welcoming, happy and embracing of us. Please view the my Wings Learning Blog where I capture some of the experiences. Overall, it was a very humbling and enriching experience, trying to work with and understand special needs individuals through music. I realized that they love music as much as the rest of us do and how powerful music is. Music therapy is healing of the soul through music. Very simply, I'm grateful to have been introduced to MT and I hope the kids got as much out of these sessions as I did this summer.

In August, my family and I took a trip to Los Angeles to visit colleges. As the head of our SoCal Chapter, I thought it was a good time for me to do a little awareness building of CIN while doing what I love to do: practice performing live. So my Agent (Mom) booked for me to perform at 5 different Senior Assisted Living Residences, from Las Vegas to Santa Monica, Hermosa Beach, Studio City and Pacific Palisade in the two weeks we were down in LA. Each of them received me with open arms and loaded me with questions and suggestions. It was quite an experience, perfecting a solo performance, playing and speaking to my audience while bringing them joy and seeing them tap their hands & feet to the rhythm. Please view my SoCal blog for more details. I hope to be able to have another tour in the Palm Spring area either this Fall or Holiday as it's near my school.

Thank You CIN for giving me the platform to share my love of music, for teaching me that giving is more important than receiving and for me to realize how fortunate we are. It's been quite a great summer!