Celebrating Diverse Voices of Community Music

On 10-14 July National Center for Teacher Professional Development hosted

international event CMA (Community Music) pre-conference seminars titled -

„Celebrating Diverse Voices of Community Music “, which was organized

along with mentioned organizations, by ISME (International Society for Music

Education), Iowa State University, with support of Ministry of Education,

Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia and Multi-functional Space Fabrika

which is overly popular place among all age groups.

Tbilisi seminars were attended by about 60 delegates from various countries,

about 20 from Georgia and apart from this, almost 90 performers took

participation.

I want to point out special characteristics of a seminar:

1. High quality of organization, which was provided by both hosts and guest

delegates. Mary L. Cohen contacted me year and a half before the project

by the recommendation of our mutual acquaintance with professor

 Andrea Sangiorgio and since than our correspondence had been constant.

She and Peter Moser were in Tbilisi 1) a year and 2) three months ago

before the seminars, made all the contacts that were needed and studied

all the possible versions of conducting pre-conference seminars. From our

part, the seminars were organized on a high level; I also want to note that

For a music expert, contextual issues were my concern - spreading

information among local musicians, besides interesting them and making

consultations. During the work process interesting, original and diverse

forms of pre-conference seminars were pointed out which were

presented by performances on many different locations (Center,

Museum, University, Multi-functional Space Fabrika) and also by various

formats and contents of the performances.

2. Needless to say, music was a main principle, defining part of pre-

conference seminars. For instance, fascinating introductory lecture of

Doctor of Arts, ethnomusicologist Gia Bagashvili was in ppt format and

was also displayed by Georgian State Academic ensemble - "Rustavi"'s

live performance, which excited and amazed whole audience and it even

attracted attention from non-music members of National Center for

 Teacher Professional Development . Besides academic paper he presented

a spoken presentation on the topic of Symbolic importance of Eternity

and Wine in Georgian drinking songs. I also want to note the head of

Children's Opera Theater - Guri Zakareishvili and his conference address

alongside memorable puppet theater performance "Musical Rainbow" in

the University of Cinema and Theater. I also want to point out here

symposium of public school teachers. After speeches it was initiated by

presenter Nana Chavchanidze a little performance which was initiated by

presenter Nana Chavchanidze. It was successfully concluded by excitable

singing of the guests and her piano accompaniment. General musical-

creative activities as a constant indication on the fact that this was first

and foremost gathering of musicians. As an example I want to note

English musician Caroline Bithell's special performance of a Georgian

song "Iavnana" in front of the whole audience. She closely described the

context of this song and made differentiations regarding “Iavnana” and

“Nana” which is rather controversial topic.

3. High academic quality which was displayed by guest's presentations and

performances. They were done in quite a few various formats and places.
 These formats were – Power Point presentations, Pecha Kucha (which

was new for most participants), symposium, spoken presentations,

workshops and various types of performances – choir’s concerts, Puppet

Opera Theater’s displays, Children’s Folk studio displays, harp concerts

and so on. The papers were read in quite a few various spaces – In a

center, educational theater, museum and etc. Presentation by Japanese

musicians must be noted along with showing traditions and hosting. Also

the fascinating workshop presented by Georgian Orff-Schulwerk

Association "Ge-Orff" which was founded in Georgia in 2015 and

represents International Institute of Orff and Mozarteum. Gillian Howell

amazed the guests by her demonstration titled Community Music and

post-war healing, in which she had used materials and research of

Georgian past too.

4. An environment of the pre-conference seminars was so benevolent and

friendly that PhD, researcher, მusicologist Tamar Tsulukidze noted that

this presentation was a kind of relaxation for her, which had an influence

on her future conference presentations too.

5. Reflexion-Conclusion by means of group work, in which participants

were given an opportunity to state their opinions. Also a kind of outline

 was made on the future implantation of community music in Georgia by

Marina Adamia - Ilia State University's Music Centre Director, which

was concluded by unanimous singing performance.

I can say that these seminars employed intercultural sense, there were not only

co-existence of various cultures but also interaction of these cultures and

experiences among each other. As I have already mentioned naturally music

was the key moving point of the project. Music’s role and functioning was

displayed not only in the performances but also in the academic papers and

presentations done by guests. All of the days were rather active, fascinating and

diverse, which resulted in the seminars being very successful in the end.

As a conclusion I would like to say that seminars lived up to its name and made

these days kind of a feast and celebration to the participants.

Rusudan Takaishvili
PhD,

Head of Aesthetic and Physical Education Group. Music Expert-consultant at

Teachers Professional Development Center/host organization

Head of Teacher’s Professional Development Program, lecturer at Tbilsi State

Conservatoire