School of Passages
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School of Passages *
A living school where we learn how to attune our bodies to the land and cosmos through the creation of ceramic instruments and the understanding of primordial breath.
MODULE 1
The Voice She Carried: Female Flutes in Ancient Sound
In Person workshop
Saturdays, 12 - 3pm
Rosendale, NY
September 5th, October 3rd, October 24th, November 21st, December 12th
In this first module we learn how to create globular flutes, we will start with one body (one chamber) and go to up to three or more.
We will explore their relation to the cosmos, the body and to many ancient traditions.
We will learn how to tune globular flutes and also learn how to play them.
In each session we will work with breath and exercises to expand our capacity for air and relaxation.
We will meet five times.
Four sessions will be making distinct globular flutes, we will meet once a month and we will stay connected via a group chat.
Session 5 will be our last session where we will burnish and play the instruments all together.
Session 1
The first instrument we will create is a globular flute in the shape of a member of the cucurbitaceae family (squash, gourd).
This shape is fundamental in feminine rites of passage, mystery schools, and earth-based rituals. As both fruit and tuber, it symbolizes the nurturance of the earth. Its fleshiness embodies abundance, while its form evokes all that is born from the night, from the dark. Across cultures, gourds and squashes continue to be honored in fertility rituals as symbols of femininity and wisdom.
We will each make a small gourd flute. Over the following month, you may either expand on it to create a larger or more personalized version, or simply continue working with the one made in class.
I will go over methods for storing and drying your instruments, and provide you with all necessary tools—so there is nothing additional you need to buy.
There will also be an option to create a rattle instead of a flute for this first piece.
Session 2
We will share our gourd flutes in person and exchange experiences. We will practice breathing techniques for this sort of flutes.
Then we will make a triple globular flute, drawing inspiration from Mesoamerican instruments. We will discuss their uses and exact harmonics, and begin creating this instrument together in class. You will continue developing it throughout the month.
I will also teach you how to play each of these instruments.
Session 3
We will make wearable globular instruments, we will work on small to tiny scales and understand how sound changes depending on the size and thickness of instrument. We further learn about harmonics and personal sounds. This instrument is meant to be worn and it encourages you to relate to sound in an intimate and physical way.
Session 4
We will work with molds from original anthropomorphic flutes (!!!) and create our instrument. This will be the longest session as we will also review previous instruments and continue breathing techniques.
Session 5
We will meet a few weeks after our last meeting to burnish our pieces. We will play our instruments and share a meal together.
Other Details
Group communication
I will create a group chat where we can share progress, ask questions, give feedback, and exchange resources. I won’t be sending constant updates, but I want this platform to serve as a supportive space where we can learn from one another.
Firing works
We will be working with low-fire clay. I will provide the clay and tools, but you are welcome to bring your own.
Atmosphere
You are invited into my studio, a sanctuary for living sonic memory. We will work together indoors at a large table, with outdoor space available if needed. There will be snacks, water, and tea, as well as a small fire to connect us to this ancestral knowledge in a meaningful way.
This workshop is open to all levels of skill and to all genders
This workshop is limited to 12 people, spots fill up fast.
Payment
The cost of the 5-month workshop is $500, with everything included.
Payments can be made by:
Check or Zelle (Contact me for details)
MODULE 2
Dissonant and Binaural sounds: a journey into the Lower realm through tubular, double and triple flutes.
In Person workshop
Saturdays, 12 - 3pm
Rosendale, NY
August 29th, September 19th, October 25th (sunday), November 14th, December 5th
In the second module we delve into the sonic world of insects, antropods, hexapods.
We will begin by learning how to make a flute with a mouthpiece.
We will work with the pentatonic scale and then break the mold and see how insects create binaural sounds and imitate these sounds in our instruments and healing journeys.
We will learn about hertz and how dissonant sounds affect the brain.
We will make double and triple flutes following Mayan ancient techniques and pre-columbian techniques.
This course is an intermediate course, I highly recommend taking the first module to advance to this module.
Feel free to send an email if you have any questions or feel incline to take this one.
Session 1
For our first instrument, we will create a Guangala tubular/globular flute, this is an instrument that is a direct blow as we have been creating in the first module. however inside the instrument there are two compartments that allow the air to flow differently depending what direction is being played.
this is among the most harmonic and beautiful instruments that I have heard, it is the simplest instrument we will create in this series but it has a wide range of sounds and it is our first instrument using a pre-columbian pentatonic scale. the challenge here is to learn how to tune it to the original one, which is about 1600 years old.
Session 2
For our second class, we will create our first binaural flute. We will continue to work with a mouthpiece and a circle as the foundation and learn how double it and connect them with enough space between them that the notes are slightly different from each whistle creating that sound that resembles cicadas and frogs.
Session 3
For our third meeting we will create a double flute. We will look at originals from the Mayan peninsula and tune this flute to the original Classic Mayan flute, and learn how to play them and sustain the notes. This is a gorgeous flute that requires more practice than assembling time.
Session 4
For our last flute, we will create the serpent flute, this flute has three tubes and is assembled in such a way that it looks as if its one continuous body, creating a highly stylized instrument that has deep overtones and triple sounds happening at once. this will be our most challenging and also rewarding piece.
Session 5
We will meet a few weeks after our last meeting to fire our works and later to burnish our pieces. We will play our instruments and share a meal together.
Other Details
Group communication
I will create a group chat where we can share progress, ask questions, give feedback, and exchange resources. I won’t be sending constant updates, but I want this platform to serve as a supportive space where we can learn from one another.
Firing works
We will be working with low-fire clay. I will provide the clay and tools, but you are welcome to bring your own.
Atmosphere
You are invited into my studio, a sanctuary for living sonic memory. We will work together indoors at a large table, with outdoor space available if needed. There will be snacks, water, and tea, as well as a small fire to connect us to this ancestral knowledge in a meaningful way.
This workshop is open to all levels of skill and to all genders.
This workshop is limited to 12 people, spots fill up fast.
Payment
The cost of the 5-month workshop is $500, with everything included.
Payments can be made by:
Check or Zelle (Contact me for details)