1. “It’s not a matter of politics, it’s a matter of health” Prof. This is how Wolfgang Mastnak reacted to the reduction of the subsidy for music lessons. Our health needs music. Period.
It is scientifically proven that our brain needs to process information 60% cognitively and up to 40% artistically. Prof. Mastnak works in neuroscience, his first doctorate was in mathematics, he actively plays the piano and lectures at universities around the world.
2. In August, we managed to complete a new methodology – SYLLABLES. I think that Tomáš Boroš systematically brings a unique approach to the teaching of music education. In SYLLABLES, he combines the development of a sense of rhythm with practicing the English pronunciation of individual syllables. It creates a dynamic overlap between music education and English language teaching. The publication includes 40 videos that we shot with children from Veľké Krtíš.
3. My dream came true. I was able to verify that the art of John Cage and Yoko Ono is interesting even for teenagers. At 4 interactive concerts, we met more than 120 third and fourth graders from the Vocational High School in Veľky Krtíš and the Martin Kukučín High School in Revúca. We played together on cacti (similar to the song Branches), composed music using water, a glass and a stick (similar to the performance Water Walk) and ended the whole workshop by writing our dreams and wishes (similar to the performance Wish Tree).
4. I enjoy teaching. After 6 years, I taught again at the Faculty of Education in Bratislava. Together with a group of 14 students, we analyzed the current problems of the school system and proposed solutions. Innovations abounded in the classroom. When I asked them if they would be willing to pay for college, 50% of them said yes. 80% of them want to be teachers.
5. “People like it when an artist cuts off his ear, like van Gogh. But our ears remain in place, we have homes, wives, children, a cat, a car and electric light instead of candles. We are just normal people trying to live a “normal” life, which is often a big disappointment for many.” written by Piet-Jan van Rossum, my friend, a Dutch composer living in Belgium. Piet-Jan In the article “What is friendship and where does it come from? he writes not only about the composer’s life in the Netherlands, but also about his friendship and relationship with Slovakia. You can also listen to the music of Piet-Jan van Rossum on the latest CD of the VENI ensemble Nachtboek – Quotations
6. The book “THE POWER OF FACTS” – Ten reasons why we have misconceptions about the world – and why we are better off than we think” has been soothing me for the last month. Hans Rosling was a Swedish doctor, scientist, professor of international health and a phenomenon of global TED conferences.
7. If you’re looking for inspiration, support, and a community of teachers, join our Teachers Club!
Together with Tomáš Boroš and Eva Šušková, we have prepared 6 meetings for you in the 2024/2025 school year, of which 4 are online and 2 in person at the Faculty of Education in Bratislava. Each meeting will be full of practical ideas, news and opportunities to bring new ideas into the classroom. The first online meeting will be led by Eva Šušková on October 24. from 14:30 to 16:00. Theme “My voice, my mirror”.
8. October 27 2024 at 7 PM we cordially invite you to a concert where, together with soprano Helga Varga Bach, we will present another 18 beautiful songs by Charles Ives as part of the IVES 114 project. If you want to get to know Ives’ music even more closely, you can listen to my music workshop or watch an interview with Tomáš Boroš from 2022.
If you want to support my work and about InMusic or ISCM, you can buy our CD, book or sheet music, order innovative education or become our regular subscriber.
