SCHOOL WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES

“Rhythm in the Environment”: an experiential program of sound explorations.

The project benefits students on a multiple of levels, engaging developmental pathways (physical, ethical, social, emotional, and cognitive) and integrating many aspects of an academic curriculum: social studies, environmental science, and mathematics.

Each week students work with musical instruments from around the world to:

• Strengthen their understanding of the aesthetic concepts of sound on the physical level,
• Use sound to center themselves and influence their state of being,
• Practice physical movement as a natural and fundamental part of their daily lives, improving their overall physical health,
• Enhance social skills through cooperative collaboration,
• Bolster self-esteem through new awareness, and
• Increase their understanding of commonalities among world cultures.
  

SAMPLE CURRICULUM*

* Programs can be tailored from one-day to twelve weeks. The curriculum listed below was scheduled over a five-week period.

WEEK 1 – What is sound?
Introduce the concept of sound and the physics behind it. Using Chinese gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, Middle Eastern frame drums and West African drums, students build an understanding of sound, space, time and energy while working cooperatively with others.

WEEK 2 – How we listen.
Using tribal and indigenous music, we investigate how we hear sound listen with the ears, the brain and the whole body. We develop listening, analyzing and evaluating skills in relationship to constant change.

WEEK 3 – Our creative essence.
Focusing on the creative impulse we learn how sound is produced from the deepest part of our being—the same way nature produces sounds. We will explore the physics of sound making, pattern and frequency.

WEEK 4 – Why we make music.
This week explores music as an important means of self-expression. We see how it is universal throughout culture and history, and build awareness of commonalities among individuals and cultures around the world.

WEEK 5 –Function of Music.
Students are introduced to the various functions of music: sacred, ceremonial, celebratory, meditative, entertainment, and dance. They will explore musical concepts such as dynamics, tempo, time signatures, articulations, and phrasing.