sworldmusic - Reflections

September first time publication! I am a published author!

9/2/2015

Two books fresh off the press!

On September 1st 2015, Barcelona Publishers published my very first and second book. I am beyond excited! This seed of an idea sprouted four years ago and has grown into a massive collaboration with many music therapists from around the world. Our vision was to create a book that was user friendly for "on the go" music therapists. The text is kept to a minimum at typically one page. The rest is music!
I know I have been strapped for ideas on more than one occasion, and we have collected diverse music ranging from world, pop, hiphop, Nordoff-Robbins style, orchestral instruments and more.

The first book has ready made compositions where you can use the music right in session and no alterations are needed. The second book is full of improvisation themes where you can easily play from and see where the music takes you.

Enjoy the books; it is truly a wonderful wealth of information and I am especially pleased that it is a Canadian publication. Feel free to order the books online. I look forward to receiving my personal copy soon!

Also, a big thank you to all the contributors. This has been a collective and collaborative effort. A job well done!

Here are the two books:
1. Song Resources for Music Therapists
Edited by Colin Andrew Lee and Sara Pun
Cost: $22
http://www.barcelonapublishers.com/Song-Resources-for-Music-Therapists

2. Composition and Improvisation Resources for Music Therapists
Edited by Colin Andrew Lee, Aimee Berends, and Sara Pun
Cost: $28
http://www.barcelonapublishers.com/Composition-and-Improvisation-Resources-for-Music-Therapists

Canada Day in Cochrane!

6/25/2015

July 1, 2015
Cochrane, Alberta
1230PM & 215PM

Check out my third taiko drumming performance!

The afternoon will feature Japanese Taiko Drumming. I am so proud to be Canadian!
We will play Matsuri, Wachi, Buchiawase, Hiryuu/Isami Goma,
Seiryuu and Himatsuri! Come check us out!

Cost: Free!

Where: Cochrane Park

Map: https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Cochrane+Ranche+Historic+Site+Visitor+Information+Centre/@51.196329,-114.479926,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x53713f60095f3987:0x4e374b06dad63fb!6m1!1e1

Article:
http://www.cochranetimes.com/2015/06/25/japanese-drummers-part-of-canada-day-fun

Otafest: Midnight Taiko Performance

5/8/2015

May 17, 2015
Calgary, Alberta, 2PM

Check out my second taiko drumming performance!

The afternoon will feature Japanese Taiko Drumming. We will play Matsuri, Wachi, Buchiawase,
Seiryuu and Himatsuri! Come check us out!

Cost: Free!

Where: University of Calgary

Website: http://otafest.com/midnight-taiko

World Music Ensemble: University of Calgary, Rosza Centre

2/23/2015

March 29, 2015
Calgary, Alberta, 8PM

Check out my last concert with the World Music Ensemble!

The evening will feature unique world sounds from India, Bali, and more! I will be playing Canadian composer, Colin McPhee's full composition, "Balinese Ceremonial Music" with all three movements performed on two grand pianos.

Tickets at the door, cash only
$12 for an adult
$9 for a student or senior

Website: http://scpa.ucalgary.ca/events/world-music-ensemble-1

Breathe with Music: Yoga and Beyond

1/19/2015

February 1, 2015
Calgary, Alberta, 245PM

Check out a music workshop at Yoga and Beyond.

Cost: By donation
Please register online

Where: 200 1609 Centre Street N.W.

Website:
http://www.yogaandbeyond.ca/yoga-retreats-and-workshops.html?mobile=false&options%5Bids%5D=819&options%5Bsite_id%5D=14621

Midnight Taiko Drumming: CJCA New Year's Party

1/19/2015

January 31, 2015
Calgary, Alberta, 730PM

Check out my first Taiko Drumming performance!

The evening will feature Japanese Taiko Drumming. We will be performing 4 pieces in total. I will be performing in 2 pieces called Matsuri and Hiryuu Sandan Gaeshi.

Tickets in advance by Jan. 20
Includes dinner and entertainment

$50 Members
$55 Non-members

Where: Austrian Club, 3112 11th Street N.E.

Website: http://najc.ca/national-events/calgary-cjca-new-years-party-2015/

World Music Ensemble: University of Calgary, Rosza Centre

12/14/2014

November, 21, 2014
Calgary, Alberta, 8PM

Check out my first concert this year!

The evening will feature unique world sounds from African drumming to mariachi music! I will be performing a gamelan inspired piece "Puspa Ungu" (translates to "Purple Flower") composed by myself and Dr. Rod Squance (2014). I will also be performing the unique instrument, Balinese gender wayang, with my colleagues. We will finish with the Canadian composer, Colin McPhee, and his transcendent piece "Balinese Ceremonial Music" with two grand pianos!

Tickets at the door, cash only
$12 for an adult
$9 for a student or senior

Website: http://scpa.ucalgary.ca/events/world-music

It's a wonderful life at the Banff Centre

4/13/2014

The Banff Centre is an amazing place to be for an artsy soul like myself. The moment you drive up the winding road you are in a secluded winter paradise. The Rocky Mountains cradle you in a heartwarming welcome where beauty, inspiration, and creativity is abundant.

I was honoured with the opportunity to be one of the nine pianists in Andrea Buttner's Piano Destruction Exhibition. She showcased archived footage of men destroying pianos using various painful methods from stepping, sawing, axing, to melting snow on the strings. It was interesting to observe their methods of destroying the piano, as some seemed more experimental, while the others demonstrated pure aggression.

If you are in as much shock as I am, take solace in the fact that the destroyed pianos were typically old with little life in them... but still, the idea of destroying a piano, any piano, still emanates a visceral reaction.

Besides the fascinating topic of piano destruction, Andrea brilliantly put together an exhibition where the footage of the men destroying the pianos is in conjunction with the nine female pianists simultaneously playing the music by Schumann, Chopin, and Monteverdi. The contrast is a beautiful dissonance that makes a bold statement about destruction and creation.

The experience of playing together as a group of nine was empowering. The piano is usually characterized as a solo instrument, but in this case, we were a collective voice or a "piano choir" as our music director, Luciane Cardassi put it. The sheer strength of the sound and resonance of all nine pianos was powerful and intimate at the same time. I had imagined nine pianos together as chaos, but instead, it was a refined, mighty sound.

As a music therapist, I am interested in the group experience, and in order for us to play together, intense listening was required. As every musician knows, and similarly in life, no practice or performance is the same. In this respect, we are constantly improvising and responding to the elements at hand. As a group, it was a fine balance between following Luciane's conducting and listening to the sounds around us. Everyone's voice was important, and yet sometimes I could not hear my own voice; which was acceptable since my sound was the collective sound. As a pianist, it is a very counter-intuitive kind of practice.

I thoroughly enjoyed playing with the group and getting to know each one of them outside of our practices in the Walter Phillips Gallery. I also soaked up the rugged beauty around me, including the cabin-like accommodation with wood furnishings and a large fire place inside the lounge. Every day I was spoiled with the rich, buffet style, fresh creations that day, including home-made mint chocolate chip ice cream. I had access to my very own, piano studio with a gorgeous view of the mountains and a 7 foot Yamaha Grand Piano inside. Lastly, I was pampered with their indoor swimming pool, hot tub, and steam room and indulged in a relaxing massage the day before our performance, which turned out to be a smashing success!

All in all, my week long residency was the equivalent of an artist's spa, where you are surrounded by beauty, art, and other artists. I was thoroughly pampered, and I hope to be back some day for one of my own projects in the near future.

Andrea Buttner: Piano Destructions

3/30/2014

I will be in residence at the Banff Centre and performing with 8 other female pianists. Check out the event at:
http://eepurl.com/Pz4t5
April 10 at 7 and 8:15pm

If you missed the event, you can still check out the exhibition with the recordings of the nine pianists:
Andrea Buttner Piano Destructions
Walter Phillips Gallery
Runs April 16- July 20, 2014

Making Music in Nepal

11/19/2012

If you want a melt your heart kind of experience, come to Sunrise Orpanage. They are the cutest kids, with sweet smiles, sometimes bratty attitudes, and simply wanting to be loved.

These kids are orphans, but have found family with each other. One girl said: "I don't have a sister, so I asked one of the girls if she wanted to be my sister, and she said yes. Now I have two sisters!"

Wise words coming from a youngster. Don't we make our family from the ones who are truly dear to us? These days we have a "modern family" comprising of not just our blood lines, but also from people who are devoted to being present in your life. I think that's why I am so fond of the show "Friends" too: the group of six are each other's family.

The kids are lovely, but also unruly and undisciplined. I expected to be sad when I came to the orphanage, but was pleasantly surprised to find the children genuinely happy. They don't have much (literally, as many of them are wearing rags with holes that run up their entire pant leg), but they also don't know any better.

I felt deeply affected the other day when one of the orphans, Utam, walked me back to my host family's mansion and he insisted he carry my guitar.

While he politely waited at the gate, he squealed in delight because he found an old kite in the garbage beside the house (my Nepali sister had made the kite, got bored with it and consequently threw it out). He grinned widely and immediately started to play with the kite. It was his lucky day, but I only felt bittersweet sadness for him because he had no idea just how poor he is. At the same time though, perhaps he was happier than most: he was content with what he had. Utam taught me a very important lesson that day.

Many of the kids are like Utam, so our music therapy sessions focus on providing structure for the kids, as there are around 20 of them and there is only one house mother. They have a lot of free time and need help learning how to focus, follow rules, and respect each other. Our music interventions focus on listening and turn-taking skills. Over the past few months I have seen progress and there are children who really enjoy the music and always return for more.

I always believe in the power of education in order to change the world and break cycles of poverty. That is why I have decided to contribute monthly payments to Sunrise earmarked for their education, including musical studies. If you would like to help, whether a one time or regular donation, let me know and I can arrange it. Dhanyabaad (Nepali word for thank you).