The main objective of this 3-hour workshop is to explore the ways in which we make distinctions between musical and non-musical sounds, or how we perceive the contrast, if any, between art and life. The central question is: What is music? First, participants will define what music represents to them. Then, once they have established their definition, they will listen to a variety of music and sounds from across the globe. Based on their listening, we will contextualize this music, looking at different communities, cultures, and historical periods. And finally, based on our listening, we will question the definitions. Is your assumption of music the same? Or do you need to come up with a new definition? What is the purpose of expanding our concept of music? In other words, why is it important for the concept of music to include a broader range of sounds? (Although the examples in this workshop are mainly musical pieces, the method can be applied to other forms of cultural activities and practices.)

This is a 3-hour workshop about our interactions with music as a cultural practice. How do we listen to music? Where and when do we listen to music? Do we always choose to listen to music? Using different class activities and tasks, I contextualize these questions in our current interactions with music and its significance in our everyday life. As part of this workshop, I also discuss the importance of history in how we experience music. For example, we will study different modes of musical experiences, from listening in venues, such as concert halls and opera houses, to modern technologies. We will also examine how different modes of listening shape our interactions with music, such as how listening with headphones creates a private and isolated musical experience. (This workshop provides an opportunity to interpret our interactions with any form of cultural practice and explore some new ways that we can experience them.)

A challenge for many educators is how to talk about music as an abstract art, especially when the goal is to discuss the musical meaning and not the technical aspects of music. This challenge could apply to many other cultural or art forms, such as painting, architecture, or literature. Focusing on the question “What does music mean?” this 4-hour workshop offers a simple framework to understand music in its historical and geographical setting. Using various tasks and activities, the participants explore how music as an abstract art can be connected to a context in which listeners can achieve valuable insights on its significance.

Why should we care about music? What is music’s significance in our individual and social life? How can we understand the role of music and its impact on society? Is it always positive? This 4-hour workshop will discuss these questions in an interactive setting by drawing the participants’ attention to the ways music contributes to a more dynamic lifestyle. Historical mini-presentations are embedded in this workshop, which provide various historical examples of how music has interplayed with the individual, social, political, and economic aspects of human life.

This course will study the history of Western music from the Middle Ages to present day. Using examples from different historical periods, we will examine various ways that composers have used sonic materials in order to interact with the artistic and social values of their time. This course is offered in two short (10 hours) and long (25 hours) formats. No background knowledge about music is needed and all the information that is required will be introduced and explained in the first few sessions.

The main objective of this 10-hour course is to introduce the main elements of Persian music in Iran. We will understand and appreciate the creative aspects of Persian classical music in its cultural context. No background in music or music history is required. In this course, I will introduce the necessary terms and concepts in order to understand and appreciate this type of music. We will study the vocal and instrumental music of various musical traditions in Iran, and listen to the most well-known musicians who have contributed to the development of this culture.

In these setar lessons, I teach my students the techniques and repertoire of this really popular and versatile iranian musical instrument, and ensure my students understand the cultural context in which the music is being performed and appreciated. After the basic lessons, I will teach and encourage my students to play and sing along some simple persian tunes to cultivate a more dynamic musical experience.

The main objective of this 10-hour course is to introduce the main elements of Persian music in Iran. We will understand and appreciate the creative aspects of Persian classical music in its cultural context. No background in music or music history is required. In this course, I will introduce the necessary terms and concepts in order to understand and appreciate this type of music. We will study the vocal and instrumental music of various musical traditions in Iran, and listen to the most well-known musicians who have contributed to the development of this culture.