TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

 

 

            My personal philosophy as a teacher is based on the belief that music is a way of life and not something that can easily be learned from one technique or method.

Instead it requires an integrated technique that uses different tools and elements of music so that the end result will produce an integrated musician with a solid base foundation, grammatical skills and vocabulary. This knowledge can be used in many different situations and genres of music.

            When teaching improvisation I like to use techniques that I learned in several different countries from ethnic and indigenous musicians. I believe that a non-western point of view can give a student a different perspective and can add to their base foundation of musicianship. The main objective is support the student to find their own voice, fill the gaps and increase their own personal forces as a human being and musician.

            A good example about how those different ways can be used in music is the method of what I call “blind music”. This requires students to play and develop music communication without using their eyes. It brings great awareness to what deep listening means. Another common technique is the African approach of rhythm.

Also I use rhythm units (Middle Eastern conception) and combine this with the breath to create unique phrasing and awareness of human making sound. I also use and practice the use of multi-rhythmic structures that are common in South American music like Candombe in Uruguay, Sertao in Brazil and Chacarera in Argentina; and especially in the Central American Indian music (my own heritage) called Raramuris and Chichimecas among many others.

            One last example is the use of “extended ways of harmonic substitution” coming from the tradition of the Jazz language, but can be applied in any music. I work with students to develop their harmonic and melodic knowledge of a piece of music and help build and expand harmony through making them aware of harmonic connections that are not very obvious. I teach them to listen and use harmony so that it is practical, interesting and musical.

            The main objective is support the student to find their own voice, fill in their knowledge gaps and increase their personal forces as human beings and as musicians.

            I focus on having them embrace music as ONE genre and help them to be able to integrate all they have learned to communicate their ideas. I have always believed there are endless possibilities when a person has the attitude, “Everything starts when wondering what happens if”.

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LIST OF COURSES

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1.- Electric guitar                                       2.- Acoustic guitar                                   3.- Piano                                         4.- Harmony

5.- Analysis                                                 6.- Dictation                                             7.- Improvisation                           8.- Ear Training

9.- Composition (both for Jazz and classical)                                                           10.- Counterpoint                        11.- Jazz history

12.- Music history                                     13.- Ensemble instruction                      14.- Arranging                               15.- Orchestration

16.- Live recording techniques               17.- Music edition and mastering         18.- Music notation                      19.- Music theory                                     20.- graphic scoring                                  21.- Jazz styles                                          22.- music philosophy                  23.- Band couching

 

For further information: omartamasa@gmail.com and/or jazzmonterrey@hotmail.com

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We teach in the classroom and also on line so if you´re interested contact us and will be a pleasure to embrace your potentiality.