My Summer Along the Silk Road

Last spring, I was awarded a Fund for Teachers grant to study the music and culture of India. In August, I will spend two weeks in this culturally rich country and bring back all that I learn to share with my students at Peirce School in Chicago.

With the addition of the International Baccaulaureate program in our middle school, I now see 6^th  - 8^th students more often and for longer periods. I developed a curriculum of world music based upon the ancient Silk Road trade routes from China through India, the Middle East and into Europe.

Traders travelling along the Silk Road not only brought with them their wares to sell, but also shared their culture: music, philosophy, art, etc. with the towns and villages in which they stopped. Traditional music of India is very different from western European music. There is a mythology and philosophy surrounding the rules regarding melody and rhythm that is fascinating to me as a western musician. As an classically-trained singer, I am also intrigued by the hauntingly beautiful vocal music of this area that is mirrored in the playing of the sitar.

I plan to visit many of the important sites in India (India Gate, The Red Fort, Humayan’s Tomb, and, of course the Taj Mahal) but will also devote some time to experiencing the Crafts Museum. This museum is set up to evoke village life where artists show and sell their work. I will document this experience at the Craft Museum through pictures and video to help my students understand the idea of trade and cultural exchange along the Silk Road. I will also spend time in local outdoor markets taking pictures and recording the sounds of this traditional way of bartering and bargaining.

I am always looking for ways to expand my knowledge and understanding of other cultures. I find it fascinating that even in our current world with technology linking us together, people can still hold on to many of their traditions. Our culture in the United States is a blend of many other cultures. We are really the result of many travelers who have brought with them their music, art, philosophy and religion, much like what happened along the Silk Road hundreds of years ago. I remember that my elementary school had a collection of dolls in traditional costumes from around the world and I would wonder why we didn’t have clothing that showed that we were American. Traveling to other countries where there is a deep connection to a shared past helps me to better understand the different threads that have been woven together in my own country. Even though we don’t have specific clothes which clearly show our history, there is much to value in the cultures that have contributed their “thread” to make the fabric of our society.

As I make this journey, I will be like those Silk Road traders who learned about places and cultures vastly different from their own. Unlike those early travelers, however, I will be able to document my journey in pictures, video and audio recordings to post here on this blog and to later share with my students.