SILKROAD’S GMW ONLINE:
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

＋ LIST OF SESSIONS

All session times are listed in Eastern Standard Time

Arabic Music Workshop – Alejandro Castellano

December 13, 2023 | 1:30pm-3:00pm EST

The purpose of the workshop is to introduce participants to the arabic maqamat (scales) and iqa’t (rhythmic modes), analyze a piece of music to illustrate how the maqamat and iqa’t are used in composition. Participants will learn to play the piece with proper intonation, phrasing, and feel.

The Principles of Classical and Folk Music of Iran – Mahya Hamedi & Bahar Badieitabar

December 13, 2023 | 7:30pm-9:00pm EST

This workshop will provide an overview of the history of the music of Iran and the influences it has gained from various ethnic cultures across Iran. We will delve deeper into the modal system of classical Iranian music (AKA Dastgah), covering topics such as terminology, multi-modal cycles, poetic meter and its relation to the rhythm in the music of Iran, microtonal system, and the process of improvisation in this genre. These topics will be demonstrated on oud, voice, and Persian frame drum, Dayereh.

Additionally, participants will learn a short Persian classical song, understanding the performance logistics and how the motifs can be incorporated into improvisation. Participants will become more comfortable with the fundamentals of this music. To do so, they will practice what they’ve learned by improvising over a specific Dastgah.

The hope is that this course will provide a meaningful, enjoyable learning experience for all participants, allowing them to appreciate and engage with the rich and beautiful heritage of Iranian classical and folk music.

Ukrainian Folk Singing – Anastasiya Voytyuk

December 14, 2023 | 1:30pm-3:00pm EST

The goal of this workshop is to familiarize the participants with the peculiarities of Ukrainian folk singing. The workshop will consist of two parts where in the first part participants will be presented with general information about different ethnographic regions of Ukraine and their singing traditions. Participants will listen to different songs from different regions and the facilitators about different types of songs and their role in everyday life and during important events or feasts. Participants will also learn about the open sources of Ukrainian folklore where you can listen to the songs.

At the second part of the workshop participants will learn one or two Ukrainian folk songs. They will be working with a text, with melodies of different voices and with the peculiarities of Ukrainian folk singing.

Through this workshop the hope is to give participants an opportunity to touch Ukrainian singing culture, which has around half of a million folk songs where singing was a very important part of life and will continue to be.

Brazilian Rural Rhythms: Pagode Caipira, Cururu, and Baião – Caio de Souza

December 14, 2023 | 7:30pm-9:00pm EST

Brazil is known worldwide for samba and bossa nova, but other musical genres are less widely known. This workshop will look at three music genres from the interior of Brazil, covering the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Bahia. The rhythms covered will be pagode caipira, cururu, and baião. The covered repertoire is typical in Brazil's caipira (hillbilly) and sertanejo (cowboy) cultures. The main musical instruments are the viola caipira (Brazilian ten-string guitar), accordion, rabeca (fiddle), pandeiro (frame drum), and zabumba (bass drum). The prominent artists disseminating these genres were the caipira duos Tião Carreiro and Pardinho, Tonico and Tinoco, Luiz Gonzaga, and Dominguinhos, among many others.

Providing a first interaction with different Brazilian rhythms will expand the horizons and pique the curiosity of the participating students to go beyond what they already know about Brazilian music. This workshop is a gateway to this rhythmic plurality.

Anticipated outcomes include an understanding of the basic clave for each musical genre covered, the interpretation of three melodies, and the rhythmic articulations of the melodies and harmonic progressions of the songs covered.

Back to the Source: Healing Sounds of Madagascar – Mikahely Razafy

December 15, 2023 | 1:30pm-3:00pm EST

This workshop will transport participants to another plane, sharing with them the culture and musical traditions of Madagascar.

Jota Navarra: General Overview and Performance – Iñaki Reta Moreno

December 15, 2023 | 5:00pm-7:30pm EST

All participants will receive a general overview of this traditional style from Spain and the main differences and similarities with other jota styles (Aragonese, Rioja, etc.), and also will be able to perform or sing some of the most representative jotas (as well as pasodoble-jota). This workshop will also feature performances from actual performers from Spain.

＋ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who can attend GMW Online: Community Workshops?

Anyone! GMW Online: Community Workshops are open to anyone from all musical traditions and skill levels. The sessions will be targeted towards performing artists with a general understanding of musical concepts and theory, but musicians and non-musicians alike are welcome to attend.

How many sessions can I attend?

Registering for GMW Online: Community Workshops grants access to all of the sessions, as well as limited time access to recordings of all sessions until March 1, 2024.

Will I have access to the recordings after the last session?

Yes, every session will be recorded and available to rewatch until March 1, 2024.

What will I need to bring?

All workshops are held entirely virtually, so you just need an internet connection to tune in! We recommend bringing your instrument, as many of the sessions will include interactive opportunities to play together.