“I have never seen students so completely absorbed in a concert or program before. I had students stopping me in the hall all day to tell me how great it was.”
- Math Teacher, a Colorado grade school
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Podcast: Workshop, Elizabeth Marrow School, New Jersey
Video: Workshop, Raga Demonstration
Video: Workshop, Rhythm Demonstration
Video: Atmic Vision Interview & Performance on ITV, New York City
Expanding The Horizons is an Indian music workshop designed to get students excited about the music of India by learning basic elements of raga (melody) and tala (rhythm). Atmic Vision’s personal and interactive style involves students in a lively multi-cultural experience that is both fun and entertaining. Frequent opportunities for questions and answers helps to stimulate active student participation and build a friendly rapport.
The virtuosity of the performers is supported by Dr. Paul Erhard’s expertise as a performer and teacher of Western music. He carefully monitors the workshop sessions to ensure that students “get it,” and offers explanations geared toward the Western musical orientation.
We all learn better by doing rather than watching. Atmic Vision helps students get past initial inhibitions by encouraging group participation in various simple singing and clapping exercises that teach aspects of melody, rhythm, and emotion in Indian music. Within the span of the workshop, students gain an appreciation and understanding of Indian music that will give them a strong basis for further exploration. Teachers report that for weeks after the workshop, students are still enthusiastically clapping and singing the exercises they learned. The students’ horizons are expanded through an unforgettable musical experience.
Workshop format:
Students participate actively in learning aspects of raga, tala, and bhava:
- Raga (melody): Ragas are scale/melody structures conveying specific emotions. Students sing a simple raga, learn the Indian note names for that raga, and sing characteristic melodic phrases of the raga. Students are guided in call and response exercises.
- Tala (rhythm): Everyone gets into singing ‘Tabla Rap.’ Indian rhythms are introduced by having students sing rhythmic patterns (Tabla Bols) played on the tabla. Students also clap in a variety of meters, including 7-beat phrases. Students have the opportunity to try playing the tabla, to feel what it is like to strike the drums with their fingers. This is a big hit!
- Bhava (emotion): Singing of ragas with an awareness of the emotional “intention” of the raga enables students to experience the emotional power of specific ragas. Atmic Vision demonstrates these emotions through performances of specific ragas. Students frequently respond with great enthusiasm to the “feeling” part of the workshop.
Additional educational aspects presented:
- Some ways in which Indian music differs from Western music (theory, concert format)
- The daily training regime of young music students learning Indian music in India.
- Music as a way of life and a way to make a living; the musician’s satisfaction in being able to bring joy and inspiration to audience members.
Duration: Workshops vary in duration from 35 minutes to 90 minutes, depending on school scheduling. Atmic Vision can give multiple back-to-back sessions.
Venue: Workshops can be presented either in an intimate classroom setting with 50-150 students, or in an auditorium setting for hundreds of students. Either way, students participate actively.
Workshop Dates 2008
Workshop Feedback from Music Teachers
For booking information, contact Dr. Paul Erhard, professor of double bass, U of Colorado College of Music:
tel: 303-492-4918
email: paul.erhard@colorado.edu
