A Workshop Description
RSME “Rhythm, Sound & Motion Experience” is a unique workshop designed by Joseph Bowie in 2003. This workshop is sponsored by my foundation, the Kosen-Rufu Foundation which means to better humanity.
The workshop was designed for musicians but evolved into a project for children, adults, management teams and a team building project for schools and a wide variety of group situations. It works for all age groups with slight alterations in the activities. The workshop is a perfect for bringing people together helping participants gain confidence, eliminate shyness & fear and a tool to gain group trust to move forward and accomplish things in a group setting. I recommend everyone try this workshop. We all have rhythm. We all make sound & move. This workshop synthesizes these elements so all participants understand how we can collectively execute Rhythm, Sound & Motion to make us stronger, confident so we can be positive elements in society.
Part 1 – RELAX
We perform simple Tai Chi, Yoga and Breathing exercises. Relaxing the body encouraging group cooperation and group movement together. We breath together, move together and begin to function as ONE. MANY becoming and functioning as ONE.
Part 2 – VOCAL TRAINING
We explore the voice, the instrument we all possess. All people can sing. Working in a group situation with tones, volume soft, loud, short etc. we teach the participants how to count together and how to internalize rhythm so we can count together as a group whether we hear sounds or not. We begin by singing different rhythms as if we are instruments. We learn the concept “if you can sing it, you can play it”. We must internalize music in our body and soul...internalize the rhythmic concepts so we can transfer this information in our brains and bodies to the instruments (djembes).
Part 3 – DJEMBEE DRUM TRAINING
We distribute to each participant an authentic, African djembe drum. We have previously learned basic concepts in rhythm, timing and motion…how to function together, move together, breath together. Now we begin to play drus together. We apply the same principles we learned in Vocal Training to the drums. We play different rhythms in the same tempo and meter and allowing the participants to take solos and understand the role of the soloist. This exercise parallels the role of an individual being creative in a group situation or business.
Part 4 – LIMBO DANCE WITH MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUMENTS
The “Limbo Dance” is what we’ve all been waiting for. We did our Tai Chi and breathing exercises. We did our vocal training and djembe training. Now each participant chooses a small miscellaneous instrument and we form a circle and RSME assistants hold a limbo stick and the participants circle the room under the limbo stick while simultaneously Playing the small instrument chosen. I play my djembe drum and with my assistants we make real, danceable rhythms. Everybody dances in a circle going under the limbo stick and we have fun together, relax and feel good about ourselves because now, we are “MANY AS ONE.
That is it! The RSME Workshop. Please try it. You will not be disappointed. We relaxed our bodies, we sang together and played rhythms together. Now we understand the real concept of a group. Many as ONE…”Rhythm, Sound & Motion Experience
IMPORTANT!
This workshop concept works for all age groups from small children to seniors however these session time limits should be considered:
8 – 12 years 45 min -1 hour per session with pause after 30 minutes
18 – 65+ 75 minutes with pause after 60 minutes
Water should be available for all participants! Individual water bottles preferred!
This Workshop is most effective if we do a series of workshops. For example once a week for 8 –12 weeks with a performance/show after the final week of work.This enables the
