Tabla, Turntables, & Invented Instruments

Every student at Eagle Rock shares two characteristics: they do not expect to graduate from high school and they want to make a change in their lives. Many of the students come from violent background and communities. A critical intervention is required for them to make a transformation in their lives. For the past three years, a unique course entitled "Tablas + Turntables: Redefining Sound & Re-Imagining Instruments" designed by Robin Sukhadia and Walter Kitundu, has been offered to the students. The class is a unique journey into tabla rhythms of south Asia combined with turntablism and instrument building. Students emerge from the class with a deeper sensitivity and tolerance towards the culture and traditions of another part of the world. The teamwork, self-expression, and focused drumming required to succeed in the class have a direct impact on elevating each student's self confidence and self compassion. When asked what is the impact of the class on Eagle Rock students, Admissions Associate L' Tanya Perkins states, "...Listening to ragas in the morning, touching the tablas, understanding the sacred rituals behind playing and building musical instruments teaches sensitivity and calms our students down so they can face the negativity that our society depicts, the violent communities they come from. This class teaches positivity while conveying the beauty of a culture. This class gives the students an outlet to transform negative energy into something positive..." The class and video are produced in part by a generous grant from Project Ahimsa (www.projectahimsa.org).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• tabla
• turntables
• eagle
• rock
• invented
• instruments
• education
• music
• colorado
• kitundu
• robin
• sukhadia

[1riemassive]

turntabla

[MacGear14]

Did that make you feel cool?

[majavisnu]

hi my name is mann lee im from the philippines and im a teacher a music inventor also. i have done a lot of percussion project also. offentime combining with a dancer and choreographer. thank you for posting this. its really inspiring. i hope you cud check my videos

thanks. mabuhay

[oudandtabla]

I am a tabla player, high school music teacher, instrument inventor and composer, and I mjst say the way you have brought these very things together is awe-inspiring. I wish I could do these projects with my kids, and I am going to start aiming my curriculum in this direction! Peace! JBH, Eugene, OR.

[bizzyfingers]

much respect to you sir... good words

[lesliejs]

great idea!

[JumpStop1]

this is a great experience to take kids out of their unfortunate or what have you life and get them interested in something better, while they learn about themselves through the exploration of unique music, hell yeah

[JumpStop1]

i bet your a perfect representation of the modern american- ignorant asshole.

[muzzleray]

Fantastic Work, absolutely marvelous, inspiration, breath it in.

[copchik]

I see a lot of cruel, stupid pointless comments as I browse. Is that what You Tube is about, or mightn't t be more useful to put our dukes down and observe some new cncepts, using the net to discover more about ourselves and others?