Hello! I’m Toshi Senda, a Brazilian scholar of music remedy since 2019. And I’m right here to share somewhat of the change of perspective about musical experiences I’ve had from the commencement of music remedy at UNESPAR (Universidade Estadual do Paraná). And the way that new imaginative and prescient affected positively in my cultural/spiritual follow, extra particularly in Koteki Bands.
I’m a member of Tenrikyo church, a faith which teachings have been transmitted by Miki Nakayama, the mom of humanity, in 1838, in Japan. We imagine God the Mother or father revealed itself by way of Oyassama (Miki Nakayama) to information all people to the Joyous Life, the intention of humanity’s creation.
Immediately, in Brazil, there are greater than 100 Tenrikyo church buildings and homes of disclosure across the nation. And a few of them be a part of employees and sources to kind a Koteki Band. Koteki bands are a part of the Tenrikyo Boys and Women Affiliation, they usually’re teams of youngsters and youngsters that be taught not solely music, however human values like gratitude, selflessness, crew work and respect. These days, there’re round 10 teams in Brazil.
As soon as there’re virtually no music professionals in koteki bands within the nation, the employees members (adults and youngsters normally with greater than 15 years-old) educate youthful youngsters all the pieces they’ve discovered in koteki after they have been youngsters. The principle devices are the fife, the melodica and the percussion (snare drum, cymbal and bass drum). And that’s the way it’s been working for a few generations.
Every koteki band is sort of a massive household. The kids and youngsters play devices, the older members educate and arrange the rehearsals, and the mother and father normally put together the meals and lunch time. All collectively assist in actions like washing the dishes and sweeping the ground.
Nevertheless, since I began to review the highly effective world of music remedy, I’ve additionally observed that taking part in music in koteki is tough, inflexible and even boring to the children, like there’s a proper and a fallacious solution to make music. All the opposite actions are pleasuring, for instance, the lunch time, the breaks after we play soccer or trip a motorbike, or the sleepovers. Taking part in music itself is just pleasuring ultimately, when everybody has discovered the music, however all of the musical course of is tiring for each who’s instructing and studying. That’s why I started to rethink about the best way we expertise and educate music in koteki bands.
Composing, improvising and recreating songs in teams generally is a funnier solution to be taught music (instrument, rhythm and notion) and on the similar time strengthen the relations throughout the members of the group. Additionally, music remedy is instructing me that music experiences may also help individuals discover their identities, discover new methods of existence, and uncover their very own potentials and limits. And that’s all extremely highly effective to youngsters and youngsters, as soon as they’re capable of develop their independence and autonomy sooner.
As well as, the method of studying a musical instrument requires endurance and dedication. And when it’s completed in a ludic approach plus in a very good firm, the method turns sooner, extra environment friendly and extra pleasuring.
These days, me and my pal Mari Kondo (who’s additionally a Tenrikyo member and is finding out music at USP – Universidade de São Paulo) try to unfold and encourage new sensible concepts of instructing and dwelling music in koteki bands, so extra individuals can provide new meanings for musical experiences and, consequently, for inter and intrapersonal relations.
Nobody is able to “saving the world” alone, however each single act of hope in humanity is a giant change on this planet. In my imaginative and prescient, there’re some ways of doing these acts of hope, and I strongly imagine that music remedy is a superb one.
Toshi Senda, music remedy graduate
Universidade Estadual do Paraná, Brazil
