with Ysaye Barnwell

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

There is an incredible power in the human voice, and when voices are blended for the common good, they become a vocal community. Join Dr. Ysaye Barnwell — commissioned composer, Sweet Honey In The Rock® vocalist, classical instrumentalist, sign language interpreter and prolific leader in the field of African-American Singing Traditions — to participate in this special evening workshop. Singers and non-singers alike will share the common experience of learning in the oral tradition and singing rhythms, chants, traditional songs from Africa and the Diaspora, and a variety of songs from African American culture including spirituals, ring shouts, hymns, gospels, and songs from the Civil Rights Movement. The historical, social and political context will be provided as an introduction to the songs.

Throughout the evening we will explore:

• The influence of cultural and spiritual traditions on political and social struggle
• The values embedded in the music, from an African-American worldview
• The historical, social and political contexts of African-American songs
• How leadership emerges and can be shared among community members
• The significance of a shared communal experience in one’s life

This is the seventh course in the Integrative Sound & Music Certificate Program — a 12-part, 9-month intensive study of the power of sound and music — and can be taken either as part of the SMI Certificate Program or individually.

Click HERE to hear Songs from the Civil Right Movement.

Note: This program will be offered online. Sessions of all our online programs will be recorded and shared with registrants after each is completed for 90 days.