Old Town School – On The Road
Dispatches from the road from our wayfaring travelers.
Dobar dan stari grad skola!
(alright, I probably completely mangled that potentially grammatically scary sentence. All apologies)
Its supposed to say Afternoon Old Town School!
Although I’m sure it isnt anywhere close. Hey, what can I say, my teacher is basically a book. And books don’t correct you (or laugh at you condescendingly)
Friendly neighborhood Desk-ite checking in from Sarajevo today. Spending my days walking about in eerily familiar climates, but wondrously different geography has me exhausted, a teeny bit homesick, but greatly invigorated.
I was hoping to see the Old town (Bascarsija) here teeming with crazy street musicians and vendors. However I think the cold and snow probably are to blame for sometimes near empty plaza’s and promenades. Nonetheless, there are still occasional characters to be found roaming about the streets. (and you know I’m chasing them down for photos like the good little tourist I aspire to be)
Tomorrow, or perhaps over the weekend, I hope to find my way to what is known here as “Seljo” (or basically “academic cultural centers” or even more basically, “ensemble classes”). I guess there are quite a few of them, consisting of groups of (mostly elder) Bosnians who got together to perform and maintain old folk music and dance. Seems appropriate, ya?
If that turns out to be a success, be ready to see some photos, or maybe even a short video, of something..um..folksy? I’m on a hunt people!
For now, a few photos from the road…
Filed under: Bosnia, Notes from Becca, Uncategorized by Rebecca | January 29, 2009 | Comments (0)
Thank you Juan and Victor
Hola, amigos. Thanks to the hooked up hotel in Veracruz and the easiest internet connection yet — also Lani’s notebook, I have been able to write emails, post on Facebook and realized that I have been getting it out to only to a few friends and family. Barbie asked a question and I’m posting my response, because it’s the quick version of how things are going so far.
This trip has been really productive, and here’s why: (a) there were a LOT of contacts recommended by Juan Dies and Victor Pichardo, and most of them have panned out in some form (b) Shana is pretty much fluent and Jason is getting there, so there have been many opportunities to share along the way; and (c) Anacron is a superhero, disappearing and reappearing just as he is needed, with handfuls of contacts and opportunities for one or more of us to experience. Jason and Anacron did internet radio in Morelia a few nights ago. Also, the areas we have been in are quite rich with Old Town School-ish escualas. The level of discipline is much higher, and mostly (but not all) geared toward professional employment, but we have been absolutely blown away several times, and have two more formal visits to go. They all go long, too.
The answers to Barbie’s questions are yes, no way, and I wish. It’s a guitarron(sp?)
Now that I’m finally in Wordpress, I will attempt to post a photo. Mine seem to be all of buildings. . .
Filed under: Mexico 2009, Notes from Gail, Uncategorized by Gail | January 28, 2009 | Comments (2)
Why Authentic La Bamba?
I woke up this morning in Veracruz, Veracruz, México; the land of La Bamba. We played music and danced all night with some kids in the zocalo, and frankly I feel like I was run over. What a night it was.
I keep thinking about La Bamba. I can remember the first time I ever heard La Bamba. I was in the back seat of my mom’s car and I was 9-years-old. La Bamba came on the radio and I remember thinking it was just so cool. Of coarse this was 1987 and it was the Los Lobos cover of the Richie Valens version.
Then, like a lot of things in life when you’re nine-years-old, I kind of just left it.
But the song stuck with me. I didn’t know the cultural background, or what the song was about.
“Weird” Al did a parody of it called Lasagna (all about Italian food), and I liked that almost as much.
Over the years I stayed curious about México and it’s music, but that was mostly because I had become a fan of Los Lobos. Eventually I found the Old Town School and Victor, Juan, Maria and Yahvi, and found that I could play this music myself. And now here I am, speaking and singing in Spanish, en La Tierra de La Bamba.
I wonder what would have happened if someone had told me that the Los Lobos La Bamba, which I loved so much, wasn’t “authentic’; that it wasn’t real. What’s “real” to a nine-year-old kid?
Filed under: Mexico 2009, Notes from Jason, Uncategorized by Jason | January 28, 2009 | Comments (2)
Clase de Guitarra a Casa de Música
This is a guitar class at Casa de Música in México D.F. (México City). How beautiful! El Casa de Música focuses on teaching popular and traditional music of México. The focused learning that happens at this school is incredible. All the students have a basic understanding of music theory, they can all read music and they can all play by ear. But, beyond those specifics, the musical energy in the air this night was absolutely incredible.
It’s kind of hard to tell from the video, but there’s three rows of students in this class. The front row are the most advanced students. The second row is a mix and they’re playing a counterpoint to the first row. The third row is the beginners! The beginners are in the room! They’re focusing on laying down the chords and they’re contribution is an excepted part of the ensemble. What a feeling that must be! And how about the bass player in the guitar class!
It became very clear from the first class we looked in on, a class of early mariachi music, that Casa de Música attracts students and teachers who love music with a deep passion. It was great to witness this culture of support where students were very curious about what was going on in the room next door. Teacher and students were popping in and out of rooms and hallways all over the place. And so much about that was created because the way the space was set up. In addition, it was also incredible to see students and teachers interact not only as teachers and pupils, but interact as musicians. I just can’t say it enough – the air in Casa de Músic was electric with music.
You can’t quite see them in this video, but my amigos nuevo, David and Daniel are in the second row. I met them in about the first two seconds we walked in the door of la esquela. I must admit, I stereotyped them immediately. They’re about 14-years-old and there they were with their funky black baseball caps and “heavy metal” t-shirsts. I thought, “Oh. I bet these guys are studying some pretty heavy rock music. Well, that’s cool. I’m sure there’s some folk music going down, too.” David, Daniel and I hit it off right away, but the “Old Town School tour” was beginning and they had to get to class. I had a million questions so we left it saying we’d meet up again later.
How surprised was I when I entered this guitar class and there were David and Daniel playing a very beautiful piece of composed folk music and without a power chord in sight. As we travel, I continue to be impressed with the intensity, openness and studiousness they, and the rest of class, had.
David and Daniel and I talked for a long time after the class. It turns out they have two bands (one folk the other rock) and a theater group. I sure wish I would have been that together when I was 14. I wish I could see one of their productions. I bet they’re great.
Thinking about it, this story illustrates one of my favorite things about the visit to La Casa de Música. Because of the open culture of the school, it was very easy to find a way to “leave the tour” and go talk to the students. We haven’t been able to do much of that at the other schools, and I think that’s to our detriment. I understand, of coarse, that it’s important to talk to the people who put it all together and Maestro Jorge, the director of Casa de Músic, is a wealth of experience, passion and information. But I feel very luck to have met at least 15 students from age one-year to 75-years, and I feel that’s where the culture of the school truly lies. As always, the students have so much to teach the teachers.
I can’t wait until I find a way to get back to Casa de Música.
Filed under: Mexico 2009, Notes from Jason by Jason | January 28, 2009 | Comments (4)
I Think Queen Lili`uokalani Would Think This is “Super Chido”.
Here’s a video of Lani and I tocando música en Jardin de las Rosas yesterday. This song is called He Ala Nei E Mapu Mai Nei.
Believe it or not, banjo is not a traditional part of Hawaiian music. Maybe it should be.
Filed under: Mexico 2009, Notes from Jason by Jason | January 27, 2009 | Comments (2)
¿El Mundo Está Muy Pequeño, Verdad?
This is Gerardo, Lani and I. Here is the awesome story about how we met him.
Monday took us to two meetings with cultural representatives in Morelia. The second was with Dr. Javier of the Conservatio de Rosa, which is a concert music school. It had already been a hectic day, with Shana and I playing for the pre-school, then rushing to another meeting and then rushing to the meeting at El Conservatorio.
So when Lani and I sat down in Jardin de Rosa, we were quite ready just to kamikapila (that’s “hang loose”). And that’s what we were doing.
Remember how I was talking about the idea of putting it music out there and just seeing what comes back. Well, about 10 minutes after we recorded the video from my post about the Hawaiian song Lani taught me, this gentleman sat down across from Lani and I. He was listening very intently to what we were playing. I noticed that he had some sheet music in his hand and I asked if he was a musician. He said he plays viola and he came over to join us.
After about 15 minutes of playing and talking (his English is excellent) he asked about he school we work at. Then he paused and said, “Wait. Do you know Victor Pichardo?”
Of coarse I was quite surprised and said, “Yeah! He’s my teacher of Méxican music.”
It turns out that Gerardo is the son of one of Victor’s friends and his whole family plays Son Jarocho.
In case you don’t know him. Victor Pichardo teaches the Mariachi and Son Jarocho classes at the Old Town School. He’s also the Musical Director of the wonder group based in Chicago, Sones de México.
How about that, huh? Of all the people in Morelia we bump into Gerardo.
We wanted to make some music together in the evening, but there was just too much going on. We had a 6:00 meeting at a school called Casa de Cultura (which is an awesome school) and then Anacron and I had a 10:00 appointment to be interviewed and play some music on an internet radio school. Then this morning (Tuesday – martes we had to leave the hotel at 7:00 am to catch the bus back to D.F.
But I certainly think we’ll be crossing paths with Gerardo again. Maybe someday I’ll be sitting out on the front porch in Chicago and he’ll walk by. Wouldn’t that be something. You never know what’s going to happen when you’re sitting on the front porch.
P.S.
This is a video of Gerardo and Herman, who is studying singing at the concervatory, playing a song called La Flor Canela. Neither of them had ever played ukele or banjo before this afternoon. ¿Está padre, no?
Filed under: Mexico 2009, Notes from Jason by Jason | January 27, 2009 | Comments (3)
Estamos en Morelia
Hola amigos,
Pardon a me para no escribendo mucho. It’s been a crazy couple of days and it’s been challenging to find a working internet connection.
Anyway, Morelia is awesome! The joy on the faces of people that play música here is astounding.
So much has happened since I last wrote, I don’t know where to begin. How about I begin in the future.
I sat in the Jardin de Rosa for a couple hours today, playing music and meeting other musicians. If I were to move to México I would want to be as close to Jardin de Rosa as possible. It’s very comfortable there.
I meet many interesting people, some of them muscians, as I sat and played. I met a two young men named Johnny and Emerson. We traded “metal” licks on the banjo. Estuve supre chido.
I also met a gentleman named Sergio, who was painting in the jardin as I played (Jardin de Rosa is a jardin for selling paintings). He is a music teacher for a nursery school, El Jardin de Niños, just down the street from the hotel. He invited me to play for his class tomorrow, so Shana and I are going to go play at 8:00 in the morning. I can’t wait! How do you say “Ti-de-Oh” en español?
Again, the lesson I’ve learned over and over from so many afternoons sitting on the front porch playing music. You’ve got to put it out here. If you don’t, how are people supposed to know you’re down with the music scene. Put it into the world and the world will take care of the rest.
Buenas noches amigos,
Jason
Filed under: Mexico 2009, Notes from Jason by Jason | January 26, 2009 | Comments (2)
Lani and the Coconut Drums of México and Hawaiʻi
Yesterday we visited an incredible school called El Centro Cultural Ollin Yoliztli with our guide Felipe, who is a teacher at the school. The school teaches music to students from the the ages of five years to 15 or 16. One of the central points of the school is that students study a kind of “general music” with specific material for their instrument for two years. It’s only after the second year that students decided if they want to study música folklórico or música classica. At El Centro Cultural Ollin Yoliztli both paths are given equal weight. Awesome!
But more about that later. Right now I want to write about one of the unexpected benefits of this trip.
I introduce you to Lanialoha Lee. She teaches music and dance of the Pacific Islands and she is an incredible musician. Before this trip, we knew of each other but we didn’t really know each other. Well, let me tell you it has been a sincere pleasure talking about music and culture and teachings and life with her.
Lani is VERY dedicated to sharing the culture of the indigenous people of the Pacific Islands. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned about Hawai’i, just hanging around México City for two days. Lani is constantly pointing out parallels or differences between the cultures here.
Here is an example which I found very interesting. Lani and the Coconut Drums of México and Hawaiʻi This was recorded on our trip to El Centro Cultural Ollin Yoliztli with Lani, Anacron, Shana and myself crammed in the back of Felipe’s hatchback. In this recording, which is roughly 4 minutes long, Lani describes an encounter we had with a gentleman with a drum made from a coconut tree. We met him in the Zocalo on our first afternoon in México, D.F.
Filed under: Mexico 2009, Notes from Jason by Jason | January 23, 2009 | Comments (0)
¿Por qué estan en México?
I suppose we should tell you what’s going on with this trip. The Old Town School, through grants from the MacArthur Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council, is sending teachers to many different countries this year. (You can read more about the program on Bau’s Blaug.)
The hope is to broaden the awareness, through face-to-face encounters, of the Old Town School. We are in México to build communication lines that can someday be used to facilitate exchanges of teachers, students, music and methodologies.
I’m one of five teachers traveling through México this January. As you probably know, my name is Jason and I teach in the kids and adults guitar programs. I also guide The Young Stracke All-Stars made up of students from the Old Town School. In addition I teach general music at Rogers Park Montessori.
There are four other teachers with me in México. I’ll let them tell their own stories, but here’s a quick overview of these wonder people. Shana teaches Wiggleworms, and Wiggleworms en español. Anacron teaches breakdancing at the school and through the Old Town School’s Global Roots program in the Chicago Public Schools. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned about Hip-Hop culture in just a day and a half with Anacron. Lani teaches the music and dance of the Pacific Islands. Read more about Lani in my next post. Our jefe is Gail. Sometimes she gets the lable of being “just the administrator” but she’s much more than that. She has taken on the daunting responsibility of being the the ring leader for this musical circus. She’s great at making sure everything gets done. She’s also a teacher for the Early Country ensemble and is a wonderful singer. In fact, when I was just a student at the school in 2001, I took Early Country Ensemble. Gail was one of my first teachers!
So that’s us. We’re in México, D.F. for one more day and then we’re on to Morelia and then to Veracruz, where we’ll attend the Encuentro de Jarañeras. There’s a few stops along the way, a few long bus rides and I’m sure plenty of music and adventure.
Thanks for reading. Drop us a line if you can. Stop back soon.
Jason
Filed under: Mexico 2009, Notes from Jason by Jason | January 23, 2009 | Comments (1)
First Day in México with the Old Town School
We made it! I can’t tell you how happy I am to be back in México. Maybe you already know, but I spent the summer of 2008 in Cuernavaca, learning to speak Spanish and meeting lots of great musicians and other friends. I thought it would be a long time before I got to return and I’m thrilled that it could happen so quickly.
It’s been so cool to be in México D.F. and to know my way around a little bit. Something about it is hard to imagine. I’ve also been getting a huge kick out of being able to use mi español. I’m still at the beginning of my Spanish journey, but it’s great to use what I have.
We got in to the hotel at roughly 3:00. We set our stuff down and went right to lunch.
By the end of the afternoon we ended up being part of a wonderful Aztec purification ceremony! More about that later, including some pictures, later.
Tomorrow we’re off to our first set of meetings with teachers here in México. I’m so excited. I hope we get to play some music.
Nos vemos amigos,
Jason
Filed under: Mexico 2009, Notes from Jason by Jason | January 22, 2009 | Comments (3)
Classes
- Adult Classes
- Wiggleworms
- Kids' Classes
- Private Lessons
- Teen Classes
- Workshops
- Summer Camp
- New! Teen Camp
