IN PRACTICAL TERMS THE SCHOOL
- organizes monthly folk dance events by mixing each time two distinct cultures (eg. Kurdish and Irish) with the local one (eg. Finnish).
- manages a list of teachers worldwide but does not influence on their teaching methods (eg. Suzuki, Orff, etc.) the teachers remain independent on their teaching methods (teaching directly to the student) but having content guidelines on the next dance event to which the student should prepare for
- creates open publications of their work
FILLING IN A GAP
The WMS fills in the gap between the many high level teaching Institutions and the informal music sessions spread out around the country. Finland needs such a school because exploring music traditions of other countries and continents will not only increase participants knowledge of different cultures but also strengthens everyone`s own cultural tradition. The WMS will contribute to development of social capital, new cultural skills and mindsets for future Finland.
THE TEACHING METHOD
1 – We mix experts with beginners, where rules are added later and incrementally.
2 – As a language, students use immediately what they learn, performing from day one to improvise and make mistakes. To achieve that, we use folk dance music because:
- it uses easy to pick up tunes through their repetitiveness and simple arrangements
- it focuses, not on the musicians, but on the social gathering itself, taking the pressure away from the learning.
- It offers room for more experienced players to improvise showing to the novice its power as means of expression
- it gives an immediate recognition effect (as in games)
- it enhances the body language (via dance) decreasing the need for a common native language
3 – We increase the student’s knowledge by focusing on the “words” (instruments and repertoire) they like most. For that we generate income from the monthly public dance folk events where students play with others. That money is used to subsidize further private lessons. Students can choose from our list of teachers worldwide and via video-conference, they learn their favorite “language” so they can come back to the dance events and perform further and even teach others!
4 – We document the process in a systematic and interactive way to promote further improvements. The events content and outcome is documented via the latest available technologies such as Virtual Reality 360 Cameras, to allow a multitude of exploration and participation of the public and of students.
PRESS ARTICLES
“The World Music School, do not intend to use such Music and Dance events to oversimplify public discussion.”
“Podemos y debemos utilizar las minorías locales, juntarlas, para obtener un mejor conocimiento de nuestra propia cultura.”
Meet The Team
We are a very diversed group of people from different backgrounds and expertise.
Since February 2016, when the board members sat together and wrote the association principles, we have been welcoming new members. We are in this because we believe this work is very relevant to local communities and to societies.
Pedro Aibéo
Chaiman
Architect, musician of the World Music Band “Homebound”, Academic Researcher, the artistic director of “Cidadania theatre and games group” and a published comic novel artist.
aibeo@worldmusic.school
Tiina Laurila
Board Member
Sustainability Specialist at Northern Camelion. Environmental / sustainability management, Design for Sustainability, Virtual teaching in higher education.
laurila@worldmusic.school
Susu Nousala
Vice Chairman
Writer, Senior Academic Researcher focusing on cultural heritage, community and educational networks.
Background in visual arts, music theory, violin and saxophone and Finnish folk dancing.
nousala@worldmusic.school
Gonçalo Cruz
WMS Porto
A maker, tutor and researcher of Iberian Bagpipes. He is a music composer and guest musician on live and recorded performances, founder of non-profit Portuguese music organizations. Earned a M.A. in Architecture and a tutor’s pedagogical aptitude certificate.
cruz@worldmusic.school
Javier Sanchez Perez
Artistic Advisor and Educator
Bass player and composer.
Focused on combining traditional folk styles and their inclusion in a contemporary music context. Graduated from Berklee College of Music and University Complutense. Master studies at The Royal Academy of Music and Sibelius Academy.
sanchez@worldmusic.school
Lars Högström
Graphic Designer
Lars is a graphic designer based in Helsinki. He studies graphic design at Aalto University. Within visual communication he has an interest for critical design and self publishing. In between projects Lars enjoys listening to rap music and making spicy salsa.
hogstrom@worldmusic.school
Melonnie Manohar
User Experience Designer
As a UX designer Melonnie concerns herself with understanding user mindsets and thereby translating them into functional products and services. Besides designing, travel keeps her spirits up.
manohar@worldmusic.school
Елена Килина
Shanghai Ambassador
At WMS Shanghai we are looking to bring people together from many different backgrounds to play, sing and dance with more experienced teachers and practitioners.
Kristiina Silvaan
Alumni Board Member
Translator and interpreter, aspiring social science researcher and music enthusiast. Background in cello and violin, folk music and improvisation.
silvaan@worldmusic.school
You, here!
We are always looking for motivated people for our team. Send us an email
HOW THE SCHOOL WORKS
[in detail]
a network and a cooperative
Fig. 1 – The “virtuous circle” self-sustainable by which musicians-teachers involved in the school will give a series of lessons/workshops paid by students with a subsidized fee.