W rld Music Summer School 2015 Course programme Afrocuban Batรก Drumming Balinese Gamelan Berimbau music bow Buddhist Chants from Japan Classical Indian Singing Circle Songs Choro for Everyone! Cuban Music Big Band Darbuka: Middle Eastern Percussion Frame Drums: Daf, Bendir & Co Mbira Maqam Ensemble Indian Tabla Kora Mongolian Overtone Singing Senegalese Sabar Drumming World Music Choir
Learn to play your way around the world this summer!
SOAS World Music Summer School 2015 Now for the 13th year running, SOAS is proud to offer an exciting summer school of world music. This summer once again we offer an exciting and varied programme with something for everyone: Intensive and inspiring courses, practical workshops, taster sessions and master classes for students of all backgrounds, beginners to advanced, amateur and professional. Take your pick! What people say about the SOAS Summer School music courses: “I learnt something new, fun and rewarding, in a friendly and relaxed environment.” “Excellent experience of learning, interaction and collaboration.” “The best training course I have been on - fascinating, instructional, relaxed and very productive.” “Highly enjoyable, educational and musically challenging.”
Course programme 2015 Afrocuban Batá Drumming & Orisha Songs
Alexander Technique for Musicians
Dates: 29 June - 3 July Mon-Fri 7-9pm
Dates: 15-19 June Mon-Fri 6-9pm
course fee £90 (concs £70)
course fee £90 (concs £70)
Batá drumming is considered to be one of the great cultural treasures of the African Diaspora. The cornerstone of Cuban percussive arts, batá drumming is over 500 years old, and was brought to the island by Yoruba bondsmen during the Atlantic Slave trade. The drums accompany songs in praise of the Orisha, the deities and nature spirits of the Afrocuban religion Santeria. This course will cover some of the more popular rhythms and teach a spread of songs for several important Orishas. With Crispin Robinson
The process of Alexander Technique is a way of becoming more aware of our patterns of reaction and attitude and how these influence our postural behaviour. Changing faulty habits such as wrong balance and excessive tension in practice and performance allows musicians to become more flexible and present. Through group lessons and private sessions students of any age and activity will become familiar with the principles of the Alexander Technique. Applying these principles in daily life will increase awareness of the correct sensory appreciation in how to use the whole body and will develop new means of working with ourselves. Limited places. With Stelios Katsatsidis
Balinese Gamelan Dates: 6-11 July Mon-Fri 7-9pm, Sat 11am-5pm course fee £95 (concs £75) This is a unique opportunity to learn to play the sweetsounding seven-tone Balinese gamelan based at SOAS. A gamelan is an elaborate percussion orchestra, comprising bronze gongs and metallophones which play complex interlocking melodic and rhythmic patterns led by a pair of drums. This particular gamelan, a semar pegulingan saih pitu, is unusually beautiful and is the only one of its kind in the UK. Students will be encouraged to play all of the instruments in the ensemble and will learn to play a traditional piece of Balinese music. With Andy Channing
Berimbau music bow Dates: 6-10 July Mon-Fri 5-7pm course fee £90 (concs £70) The musical bow is one of the oldest instruments known to humankind; a simple instrument made of a wooden bow, a gourd and a string, and a stick to strike against the string to produce the distinctive deep resonant sound. In this course we are going to explore the soundscapes of the African diaspora via the berimbau, the music bow imported to Brazil via the slave trade, best known for its use in the capoeira martial arts dance. The sessions will be relaxed and hands-on and will focus mainly on the music of capoeira. Small doses of African history and Portuguese language will be also included in the sessions. The berimbau is for everyone come and play! With Cesar Cuyami Mesari
Buddhist Chants from Japan Dates: 11-12 July Sat-Sun 11am - 5pm course fee: Day1 £35 (concs £30), Day2 £25 (concs £20) In addition to its continuing spiritual significance, shōmyō (Japanese Buddhist chant) has, for nearly a millennium, been a source of vocal techniques and notation styles for other Japanese musics, including Noh theatre, narrative genres and folk songs. Junko Ueda is a recognised master of both shōmyō and the luteaccompanied satsuma-biwa tradition (also demonstrated). You will learn the importance in shōmyō of the body, breath control, vocal quality and projection. Suitable for beginners; no Japanese language necessary. With Junko Ueda
Classical Indian Singing Dates: 15-19 June Mon-Fri 5-7pm course fee: £90 (concs £70) Musical expression through the voice is regarded as one of the foundations in the art of Indian Classical Music. This course offers introduction to Classical Indian voice culture and singing styles, as well as the melodic concept of the raag, including composition and improvisation within a given raag (mode). There will be basic theory, traditional warm up exercises, learning about the rhythmic structures, in-depth practical work on two raags, and more. Suitable for all levels. With Mehboob Nadeem
Circle Songs
Choro for Everyone!
Cuban Music Big Band
Dates: 29 June - 3 July Mon-Fri 5-7pm
Dates: 22-26 June Mon-Fri 5-7pm and 7-9pm
Dates: 15-19 June Mon-Fri 6-9pm
course fee £90 (concs £70)
course fee: each £90 (concs £70) OR both £150 (concs £120)
course fee £95 (concs £75)
An experiential workshop developing skills of ensemble singing - blend, balance, tuning and sensitivity. Circle Songs also strengthen musicianship, understanding harmony and counterpoint, rhythmic precision and deep listening. A valuable tool for all singers and musicians, music and voice teachers and group facilitators. Aimed at anybody willing to experience group singing and sharing, who want to expand their musicianship and creativity, and discover melodic and rhythmic patterns from diverse musical traditions that can be applied to enhance their own musical language, through a process of sharing and vocal experimentation. With Guillermo Rozenthuler
The Brazilian style of choro represents the coming together of European melodic and harmonic traditions with African rhythms and sensibilities. Sometimes described as the cousin of jazz, it features romantic melodies joined up with an irresistible groove and rhythmic momentum that is uniquely Brazilian. This 2-part introduction to choro music will offer a participative, structured and friendly environment for all types of instruments (strings, wind & percussion). With Gaio de Lima
Practical Introduction (5-7pm) If you are new to choro start here: bring your instrument and learn the tunes! Chord sheets and scores to all instruments (as well as mp3 files to learn by ear) will be provided in advance and some practice is recommended to make the most of the workshop.
Roda de Choro (7-9pm) Opportunity for all students practice playing together. Soloists will take turns leading on themes taught previously while accompanied by other instruments and percussion. At the end of the course students will have the opportunity to perform alongside master choro players from Brazil (Sat 27 June at The Forge).
Whatever your instrument, here’s a chance to play some classic Cuban styles: Son, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Latin Jazz… The course will look at rhythms, structure, arrangement & improvisation within those musical forms. All levels & instruments welcome, arrangements will be customized to the instruments present! With Sara McGuinness & Elpidio Caicedo.
Darbuka: Middle Eastern Percussion Dates: 29 June - 3 July Mon-Fri 7-9pm course fee £95 (concs £75) The darbuka, a hand-drum common throughout the Arab cultural sphere, originated from the Middle East around 2000 years ago. A skilled player can tease a complex range of sharp and deep sounds from this goblet shaped drum. It is an easy instrument to learn and yet has a surprising emotional range. The course will introduce basic playing techniques & essential rhythms, as well as an overview on Middle Eastern percussion. Beginners welcome, instruments provided. With Louai Alhenawi
Frame Drums: Daf, Bendir & Co Dates: 22-26 June Mon-Fri 6-8pm course fee £90 (concs £70) Of simple but incredibly varied construction, frame drums are among the oldest drums known and found all over the world. The frame drum is an affordable and light percussion instrument, making it the ideal instrument to take anywhere, play everywhere. This course will explore how to produce different sounds, how to increase body awareness and natural hand movement. You will learn to play different rhythmic patterns, perform compositions for frame drums and learn to improvise in that context. Suitable for beginners, instruments provided. With Vasilis Sarikis
Mbira
Maqam Ensemble
Dates: 6-10 July Mon-Fri 7-9pm
Dates: 29 June – 3 July Mon-Fri 5-7pm
course fee £95 (concs £75)
course fee £85 (concs £65)
The Mbira (also referred to as thumb piano) is central to Zimbabwean musical traditions. It is used in Shona spiritual ceremonies to call upon the spirits, through a repertoire of ancient songs, passed down through generations. More recently it has also found its way into popular music. In the course you will learn some of these songs, progressing to add vocals & variations. The course is suitable for beginners, but will also offer deeper insights for those with some experience. Original instruments will be available for use or purchase. With Linos Wengara Magaya & Tim Lloyd
Bring your instrument (any!) and learn to play Middle Eastern music, based of the melodic concept of maqam. The course will introduce maqam theory and scales, typical rhythms and ensemble pieces arranged for the group. For fluent players on any instrument. With Louai Alhenawi
Indian Tabla Dates: 29 June – 3 July Mon-Fri 5-8pm course fee: £95 (concs £75) The tabla drums with their unique melodic sound are the backbone of Classical Indian music, in particular Hindustani (Northern Indian) music. This course is an introduction to the rhythmic structures (taal) of Indian Classcial music, as well as basic playing techniques, embracing both the theoretical foundations as well as handson drumming. Suitable for beginners, instruments provided. With Sanju Sahai
Kora Dates: 22-26 June Mon-Fri 5-7pm course fee £95 (concs £75) The Mandinka kora is a unique instrument with 21 strings. It sounds a bit like a harp, but its intricate playing style is closer to flamenco guitar. Kadialy Kouyate comes from the south of Senegal and belongs to the great line of Kouyate griots. He is a gifted performer but also highly regarded as a kora teacher, regularly teaching under- & postgraduate courses at SOAS. This is a taster course for beginners – limited places! Instruments provided. With Kadialy Kouyate
Senegalese Sabar Drumming
World Music in the Classroom
Dates: 22-26 June Mon-Fri 6-9pm
Dates: Tue 30 June 10am-5.30pm
course fee £90 (concs £70)
course fee £90 (concs £70) / certificate package: £65 (concs £55)
The Sabar drum is played with a stick and palm technique. A form of drumming once reserved for Senegalese royalty, today, Sabar music is found at all kinds of social events such as weddings, births, as well as popular events such as wrestling matches. Sabar rhythms also define the popular Mbalax sound behind many great Senegalese artists such as Youssou N’Dour and Baaba Maal. All levels welcome, instruments provided. With Modou Diouf
Mongolian Overtone Singing
World Music Choir
Dates: 22-26 June Mon-Fri 7-9pm
Dates: 6-10 July Mon-Fri 6-8pm
course fees: beginners: £85 (concs £65)
course fee £75 (concs £60)
Khöömii is an amazing style of overtone or harmonic singing where one person sings two or more distinct pitches at the same time. It originates among the nomadic people of Central Asia, particularly the mountain regions of Mongolia and Tuva. This workshops is an opportunity to learn this authentic traditional Mongolian technique. Listen to your own overtones as you discover the unknown depths and heights of your voice through these enchanting sounds. Open to anyone who wishes to explore the harmonic nature of their voice. With Michael Ormiston & Candida Valentino
A taster course for the SOAS World Music Choir running during the academic year. All music is learned by ear and by repetition, all voices are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Most of the pieces are sung in their original languages, a-capella and often in three or four part harmony. The repertoire might include pieces in African and Eastern European languages and from the Maori and Sami cultures. With Judith Silver
A day course covering the theory and practice of teaching world music performance in the classroom. The programme features lectures and handson sessions, including an introduction to resources; the place of world music within the GCSE curriculum; and a choice of practical workshops with take home lesson plans and materials. The course will focus on world music styles which appear in the Edexcel GCSE set works, as well as covering styles which are commonly taught at Key Stage 3. Designed for music teachers, trainee teachers, and practising musicians with teaching aspirations. Taught by a team of staff and teaching associates from the SOAS Dept of Music
Certificate in Teaching World Music Performance SOAS Department of Music provides a certificate in Teaching World Music Performance, awarded to those who complete the day course World Music in the Classroom plus any one of the week-long Summer School courses in a specific musical style (a discount for the day course is given to those who register for a week-long course as well).
www.soas.ac.uk/summermusicschool
The SOAS World Music Summer School is run by the Department of Music at SOAS. Why not study for a degree in the largest European centre for world music studies? We run BA, MMus and PhD degree programmes; all focus on world music. Our courses offer great flexibility. Students can specialise in particular music traditions or engage with many different musics and receive high-level training in performance. In the BA, Music can be combined with language studies, Development Studies, Anthropology and many other academic disciplines, while PhD projects can be practice-led, fieldwork-based, or theoretical. More details at
www.soas.ac.uk/music
Contact us SOAS World Music Summer School Department of Music SOAS, University of London Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG E musicevents@soas.ac.uk T +44 (0)20 7898 4500 facebook.com/soasmusic Programme subject to change
www.soas.ac.uk/summermusicschool