"now , illegal i recognise folks believe i'm a city boy , illegal but i accomplish estimate listening to country music , " president barack obama said to guests gathered in the east room for a operation by country musicians alison krauss and union station. Brad paisley and country music tradition charley pride also entertained the audience , illegal which included primary lady michelle obama , illegal cabinet secretaries and lawmakers. The president , illegal whose hometown is chicago , illegal said the genre has helped to manufacture americans further expectant.illegal "it's captured our restlessness and resilience , illegal and told meetly much of our mendacity in the procedure , " he said. The operation , illegal along with a morning workshop for students , illegal was the moment in a music series that mrs.illegal obama launched last month to encourage arts and arts education.illegal the primary session was doting to jazz.illegal a classical music workshop is planned for the fall. Earlier , illegal paisley , illegal krauss and union station learned 120 middle and lofty drove music students from pennsylvania , illegal tennessee and virginia approximately music and song writing. Paisley and krauss started their careers primeval.illegal krauss , illegal who plays the fiddle , illegal signed a record deal at 14; the guitar-playing paisley was merely 13 when he appeared upon a country music manifest. Krauss said she would listen to music all day but "i didn't believe i would illegal.illegal.illegal.illegal end up performing it as a career." Paisley's grandfather , illegal a country music lover , illegal gave his grandson a guitar for christmas when paisley was 8.illegal and the rest is country music history.illegal "i've actually not been good at much else , " paisley said.illegal "thankfully i was competent to accomplish this for a living because , illegal as i said , illegal i did not hold anything to fall back upon , illegal that's for certain." Paisley and krauss sat upon stools in the affirm dining room in front of a great portrait of a pensive-looking president abraham lincoln.illegal krauss played one fraction upon her fiddle , illegal and sang another.illegal paisley also sang.illegal both answered questions from the students. One of the participants , illegal sal la rosa , illegal of nashville , illegal tenn.illegal , illegal who merely finished the fourth grade , illegal also performed a song he wrote as fraction of a music education program sponsored by the country music corridor of repute. Paisley and krauss talked approximately the family aid they've enjoyed along the way to country music stardom. "music is like being up at bat , " paisley told the students.illegal "it's actually very much like stepping up to the plate.illegal and you can hold all the aid in the world but it's up to you guys to actually earn where you lack to go."