WEAVING WORDS AND MUSIC: FOSTERING A MEANINGFUL INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGE THROUGH MUSIC COMPOSITION

Mary Ellen Haupert
Ph. D., Viterbo University, USA, mehaupert@viterbo.edu

Abstract
For the past several years, I have explored music composition as a powerful tool for unlocking creative potential. Embedding composition into the theory curriculum had immediate benefits because it required application of the basic elements of music (rhythm, melody, harmony, texture/timbre, and form) in a creative and personal manner.  Music composition developed both theoretical knowledge of the elements and gave the students an “insider’s view” into the world of the composer.

Motivating creativity, however, in university students to sustain a long-range project can be a daunting task, so it was necessary to find a project that was intrinsically motivating and had no wrong answers—a project generated by an interesting concept or based on a meaningful experience.  Past projects include Earthtones (2009), Peace by Piece (2010), Lifenotes 1 & 2 (2011 & 2012), CCECHS Mates (2013) and Rumi-nations (2014).  Each project had a values-based concept that was broad enough to encourage student creativity, while maintaining a common class focus.  Since 2008-2009, most of the projects have been inspired by three distinct foci:  1) content from Viterbo University’s Humanities Symposia, 2) humanitarian work  (i.e. Greg Mortenson’s “Pennies for Peace” campaign), and 3) interaction with groups culturally distinct from the general student population at Viterbo University.

The sophomore composition project has continued to demonstrate that students build on their musical skills through composition, yet the “Weaving Words and Music” project (2015-2016) revealed a broader spectrum of growth (for both students and professor) by connecting the project to diverse cultures.  “Weaving Words and Music” delved into the conflict in the Middle East, and by so doing, provided evidence that music can be an effective way of processing extremes in emotion ranging from deep-seeded resentment to a positive musical collaboration.  Interacting with poetry and people from the Middle East offered rich and varied creative musical exploration and performance opportunities that will be explored in the context of this paper.

Keywords: Music composition, Music theory, Intercultural exchange, Global learning, Global empathy and awareness