The Monroe Institute Canada
1876 Morello Road V9P9B1 Nanoose Bay, BC, Canada

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UPDATED 2020 PROGRAM SCHEDULE Given the uncertainty of the start of this year, we've had to make a couple of changes to our 2020 program schedule....Continue reading

A couple of summers ago a friend and I headed to the beach in the seaside town of Parksville on vancouver Island to check out the annual sand-castle competition.... While we wound our way through the wonderful displays, beneath the background din of the crowd I kept hearing a distant, hauntingly beautiful melody. Hesitating occasionally to listen, I imagined that there must have been a really good band performing outside the compound, or perhaps someone was playing a cool CD on the beach. I would listen for a few moments until the crowd and wind noises drowned out the sound, and then I’d continue on. After several of these pauses my curiosity got the best of me; I snuck behind a couple of the displays and quickly peeked through a small opening in the fence. I couldn’t believe what I saw! It wasn’t a band; it wasn’t someone playing a CD there, under a small beach gazebo stood a handsome, shoeless, street kid playing a guitar. A guitar ? Impossible! I was amazed How could anyone make sounds like that with a guitar? I couldn’t even have imagined that it was possible. Bolting out of the display area, I dodged through the crowd until I found myself standing on the beach in front of a most unlikely musical savant. The reality didn’t even seem comprehensible. In disbelief I stood, mouth agape, captivated by the marvel of the musical genius before me. Appearing to be in his late 20’s, his hair matted, clothing dirty and torn, he was a sight to behold. On the ground in front of him lay an old hat for donations. And, oh my God, could this kid play! His music was simply mesmerizing. Magically creating the most hauntingly beautiful sounds and melodies, the young man went on for at least 15 minutes without even opening his eyes. And I wondered if he would actually be able to play the same tune twice, because this music must certainly come directly from his soul. To my amazement, people streamed by on the beach, seemingly oblivious, some hesitating for a few moments and then shushing their kids to move along. In my mind I scolded them Oh, my God, how can you pass by? Can you not see the incredible beauty before you? When he finally reached the end of a melody, I dropped a few bills into his hat and asked if I could take a video. Graciously consenting, his smile lit up the beach. And so, here, including the sounds of wind and beach in the background is a link to my video of this incredibly talented young man. www.paul-elder.com/guitar.html If you close your eyes, you can imagine swimming with the whales in the ocean. When he finally finished playing I introduced myself. He told me his name was Peter Jack Rainbird, and that he’d been trying to play guitar for a couple of years, and that he really didn’t know how to play. And then I noticed that his guitar was actually missing a string, and I marveled even more at his amazing ability. As we chatted, I became even more impressed with this young man. Educated in Britain, he was articulate, intelligent, and delightfully self-deprecating and humble. All of this, and he was virtually homeless, literally living in a tent on Cortez Island just off Vancouver Island. I asked if he had a CD or recording that I could buy, but he replied that he couldn’t possibly afford to cut a CD. I encouraged him to get one made as soon as possible, because I was certain he could make a living if he had CDs to sell. And in the back of my mind, I began thinking, ‘This kid’s music would be perfect for a Monroe Institute Hemi-Sync recording.’ To make a long story a bit shorter, with the help of friends who got him into a studio, Peter has, indeed, completed a recording of his first CD Unravel. Incredibly, in the studio he laid down all 6 separate tracks for the album, playing for 45 minutes in one uninterrupted take, transitioning from one song to the next, without a single error or re-do. If you would like to purchase a copy of this young man’s hauntingly beautiful CD, you can navigate to the purchase page on his web-site or simply click on this link: www.peterjackrainbird.com Over these past couple of years, Peter’s star quality has grown immensely and his musical genius is even more impressive and gaining international attention. He has now been booked for a lengthy live tour through the US and Canada this coming summer. Beginning in Vermont, he has performances set for New York, Chicago, Boston and west to Colorado, New Mexico and California (and points in between)before returning to Canada. If he is performing in an area near you, I hope you can get out to see him. I still run into Peter every now and then here on Vancouver Island; he has a bit more money these days and his wardrobe has improved, and although I know he will be a huge star someday, it warms my heart to see that he still prefers to go shoeless.