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SUMMARY:Performing Social and Classroom Integration Through Musical Rhythm
 : Theory\, Practice and Improvisation - Eduardo Lopes\, University of Evor
 a\, Portugal
DTSTART:20151028T120000Z
DTEND:20151028T133000Z
UID:TALK60671@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Lucian Stephenson
DESCRIPTION:Rhythm is usually considered one of the most\, if not the most
 \, important parameter of music - deeply rooted in our physiology and cogn
 itive system. Research studies have shown that from an early age children 
 perceptually relate to rhythmic structures attempting to imitate them. Con
 sidering then the natural connection between rhythm and humans\, it will b
 e presented a set of rhythm exercises and improvisation patterns that can 
 foster concepts of individuality\, group integration\, and creativity. Wit
 hin a group (musicians or non-musicians) consisting of individuals from di
 fferent cultural and social backgrounds\, the performance and awareness of
  rhythm synchronicity and improvisation is a factor that leads to group in
 tegration. By reflecting issues of human interaction\, rhythmic adjustment
 s and responses are a fertile ground for deriving general lessons about gr
 oup integration. By fostering and practicing rhythm improvisation\, partic
 ipants in the exercises are be able to find their own individuality and cr
 eativity without losing their awareness of the group. Moreover\, rhythm im
 provisation within a particular form can be used as a factor for developin
 g sensible leadership through building individual attention to the group d
 ynamics. Therefore\, the proposed rhythm exercises are a universal languag
 e that can be used through many contexts and educational stages\, promotin
 g at the same time individuality and social integration. This presentation
  will conclude with the description of a case-study in which the exercises
  were put into practice. It will be reported a two-session rhythm workshop
  in which newly arrived international students of the St. Mary’s College
  of California performed and improvised through the lenses of the proposed
  exercises. These sessions took place within the activities of the interna
 tional students welcome week as a means to promote college integration. It
  will be observed and assessed how the performance of the exercises foster
 ed group integration\, attention\, as well as group work for the developme
 nt of individuality. \n\n\n*Bio\n\nEduardo Lopes *studied drum set and cla
 ssical percussion at the Rotterdams Conservatorium (Netherlands). Holds a 
 Bachelor of Music Degree (Summa Cum Laude) from the Berklee College of Mus
 ic (USA)\, and was awarded a PhD in Music Theory from the University of So
 uthampton (UK). As a drummer he has performed in several countries such as
 : Portugal\, Spain\, UK\, France\, Holland\, Brazil\, Japan\, and USA. He 
 performs regularly with the most relevant Portuguese jazz musicians\, and 
 has performed with international artists such as Mike Mainieri\, Myra Melf
 ord\, Phil Wilson\, Kevin Robb\, Dave Samuels and Bruce Saunders. His rese
 arch interests are: rhythm and meter theory\; performance practice\; jazz 
 studies\, and music education. He currently lectures at the Music Departme
 nt of the University of Évora - Portugal\, where he is also the Head of t
 he Department.\n
LOCATION:Faculty of Education\, 184 Hills Road\, Cambridge\, CB2 8PQ\, DMB
 \, Room GS1
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