Hitting The High Notes: 'Taste The Music'

BOSTON (CBS) – Internationally renowned composer David Maslanka was commissioned earlier this year to write an original piece of music for the town of Franklin.

"Illumination" was performed by high school and middle school students during the dedication ceremony for the community's new $103 million high school.

Maslanka traveled from his home in Montana for the performance. He had some tips for the appreciative band members at dress rehearsal: "Play out; remember there is no such thing as a perfect performance; taste the music."

What does he mean by 'taste'?

"Each sound has all those elements in it; it's kind of like a living stew," said Maslanka.

Franklin High School sophomore Fione Titmus, who was watching in the audience, agrees: "Part of being a musician is that you really do enjoy the music and it's kind of all part of you. You can feel it."

"I feel like it calms me down sometimes. It relaxes me; it makes me feel whole," said 14 year old Natalia Beos, a freshman at Lynn English High School and accomplished violinist.

Natalia was diagnosed with autism at the age of four and her mother, Sunday Beos, noted its difficulty at times. "I was the mother who used to walk through the school yard to take her older daughter to school with a screaming 2 year old in my hand," she recalled.

Now, though, she says music has been an extremely positive influence on her daughter.

"Music is her go-to, it's her space where she can forget the negativity of the world and concentrate on the beauty of music," Sunday said.

Natalia is quote vocal about autism. "People who have disabilities and special needs, they can do things like this, and you shouldn't put them down if they want to try. If they have that one person in your life that can see that you have something special in you, then they can take you far," she told WBZ.

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