** Explore the current class schedule. **
I'm Jay Sand, musician, children's music teacher and very proud dad of three daughters. I live in Philadelphia where I teach All Around This World global music and world cultures classes to children in my neighborhood. Because of this thing they call the Internet, I can also teach you and your kids anywhere!
In South Asian classical music melodies build from note to note based not upon fixed scales but on the way different notes relate to one another and the mood those relationships create. Rhythmic compositions don’t move linearly, beat to beat, measure to measure, marching from start to finish as they generally do in the West, but in ever-revolving cycles. To appreciate South and Central Asian music–and, by extension, to open the real possibility of engaging with the traditional underpinnings of South and Central Asian cultures–many Westerners may find the need to disable assumptions, push aside preconceptions and step out of the comfort zone. What could be more fun than that?
In "Kids Explore South and Central Asia" our lessons give us the chance to visit:
— India: we become Bollywood dancers while reenacting the climatic scene of a classic Bollywoold film–spoiler alert: the tongawallah driver wins!
— Pakistan: we play a rousing game of the most exciting hold-your-breath-and-try-to tag-the-other-guy sport we know, kabbadi.
— Afghanistan: we do the swirling attan, the original dance marathon.
— Uzbekistan: we tell a story–a story about an Uzbek long-clawed ground squirrel–using dance.
— Kyrgyzstan: we meet the epic Krgyz hero, Manas . . . YAY!!
— Tuva: we experience overtone singing by joining together to become a Tuvan throat
— Uighurs in Western China: we build an imagintary Uyghur yurt
— Tibet: we meditate like monks
— Nepal: we befriend sherpas and climb to the roof of the world
— Bhutan: we celebrate the heck out of Blessed Rainy Day
No one will be turned away from All Around This World courses due to lack of funds. Discounts and scholarships are available! Check out the pricing secton below for details. Bottom line: if you want to sing with me, we'll make it happen.
ENJOY!
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HOW DOES THIS WORK? YOU decide the best balance for your family. If you would like to primarily learn through the "KIds Explore South and Central Asia" course materials introduced on this page, enroll for the course through this site. Enjoy all the "Kids Explore South and Central Asia" lessons any time!
When you enroll I'll be in touch to offer to sign you up for the Explore Everywhere "All Access Pass" e-mail list. When you join that list, each week I'll send you a Zoom login to access that week's livecast class. You are welcome to "come to class" each week to sing and dance with me. We may not be singing songs from South and Central Asia in our livecasts this season, but I guarantee fun.
Tuition details are on the registration page. Questions? Be in touch.