DAFU LAI AND THE LEGACY OF THE OCARINA SOCIETY

Professor Dafu Lai (NYU Steinhardt Alumni, Class of 2006, MA in Music Ed.) sends us some notes from Beijing on how he joins his students on-line to continue his teachings on creating beautiful music playing the ocarina.

Dafu Lai was the first student in our department in NYU Steinhardt from Mainland China. I believe it was in 2004 when we first met and spoke how music technology could be a powerful factor for music education in China. He spoke of his university, Xiamin University, that had the most beautiful campus in the world. I thought to myself, maybe we all think our Alma Mater has the best of everything. But several years later, his teacher, Dean Xianbo Zhou, invited me to teach a summer class, and I discovered that it was indeed, the most beautiful campus I had ever scene. I immediately wanted to become a film director and have Xiamen University serve as my set.

Although technology has continued to be an important asset for Professor Lai, perhaps his greatest contribution to our field  of music education was to revive the ocarina as a legitimate, serious musical instrument, which also provides a entry to learning music as a life-long process. With great imagination and perseverance, Professor Dafu Lai continues to promote this ancient Chinese Instrument,  restoring its legacy of 5000 years as an instrument of epic proportions throughout its long history. Returning to China in 2006, after his graduation from Music and Performing Arts Professions at New York University, he founded the Ocarina Society of China, which now has more than 5000 members.Professor Lai began teaching at Petroleum University, bringing music to thousands of students using this simple and revered instrument.

Ocarina Society of China

The Society has promoted concerts and alliances through international music education initiatives such as ISME and KODALY.  Some students have gone into the business of making Ocarinas, and many imaginative designs and sizes have emerged. Serving as the President of the Ocarina Society has been a rigorous and demanding responsibility, but Professor Lai notes that the activities of the society contributed to rise of popularity of the Ocarina and produced many virtuoso performers who perform throughout the world. Professor Lai founded an Ocarina Museum that is the home of many valuable Ocarinas centuries and milennia old. My visit to the museum was a highlight of my visit to Beijing as I learned that the instrument comes in many sizes and shapes as I toured the museum's stunning display.

 In the face of the COV-19 Virus lockdown, Professor Lai has maintained contact with his students through the Internet.

Professor Dafu Lai teaching on-line in his studio at Petroleum University, Beijing

Dafu Lai is a professor of music of China University of Petroleum in Beijing. He also teaches Orff Method and ocarina flute at the other universities: China Conservatory of Music, China University of Politic Science & Law. Due to the outbreaking of COVID-19 and most students and teachers were required to stay at home, Professor Lai has been teaching online courses since February 2020. In order to make the students seeing and hearing his instruction clearly, Dafu invested significant funds to equip many facilities such as new desktop computer with two monitors, video camera, microphone, fill lights, etc. Better equipment better insures an online teaching effect.

According to Lai: Online teaching platform is also very important either for teacher or students. Due to the unpredictable epidemic situation, almost 20 million students had to learn online courses at the same time at the first few week days of the Spring semester. Dafu had to use four different online platforms such as Tencent Class, Rain Classroom, WeChat for Business, Douyin, Chaoxing and Zoom for his live broadcast class in order to avoid the congestion. Professor Lai observes:

Fortunately, most students feel that they got much more from my online teaching than in the classroom on campus. First, the students could see the teacher’s demonstration clearly and closely with the video camera, especially for ocarina playing. Second, the students can go over the teacher’s instruction with the video playback function. Third, the students can practice their ocarina playing without disturbing the rest classmates after the teacher’s demonstration. Last, I could give specific comments for the student’s homework with the “Drop of video” function in QQ platform. I can view my students’ homework on the cellphone anytime.

The virus may block the students’ way to the school, but it could never block the teacher’s instruction and the connection to the students. We wish the outbreaking of COVID-19 could under control and to be eliminated eventually all over the world as soon as possible. We are all looking forward to seeing each other again on campus. 

Dr. SANDRO DERNINI: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING PLEXUS

My adventure with Sandro began decades ago, when I encountered him as the doctoral student of my colleague Dr. David Ecker. Sandro came to NYU already in possession of a PhD in Biology, but he was engaged in the art of life, and all forces conspired in the 70s-90s as to make NYU the place where new interactive artists gathered to enshrine proactive art as the shaping energy of artists around the world. Sandro Dernini articulated a destiny that seemed to have its own efficacy. This personal covenant matched perfectly with David Ecker's commitment to phenomenology and qualitative research. It was David Ecker, who in the 1990s launched Navigating Global Cultures. It was in that context and energy of Sandro Dernini founding Plexus that a series of events unfolded which brought Sandro and myself back together in recent times. I created a video I DO NOT KNOW and submitted art to participate in Plexus celebration at the MACRO Museum of Modern Art on December 12, 2018.

Sandro writes of our initial collaborations and the necessity of charting a new course in the wake of COV-19 Pandemic:Within the collaboration on  Navigating Global Cultures between New York University and University of Cagliari,  in 1995, for the 100th Anniversary of the Guglielmo Marconi's discovery of the Radio, Plexus International was launched.
THE OPEN CALL FOR THE WELL BEING IN THE XXI CENTURY (21 September 1995, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy)

WE ARE A SINGLE, INTERDEPENDENT, WORLD-WIDE SPECIE.

WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, WE ARE INTIMATELY BOUND UP WITH EACH OTHER AROUND EARTH.EAST AND WEST, NORTH AND SOUTH, OUR FATE IS LINKED TOGETHER.THUS A GLOBAL VIEW OF HUMAN HEALTH IS MORE ESSENTIAL NOW THEN EVEN BEFORE.”(Introductory statement by the Chairman of the 37th Assembly of the World Health Organization, on the Role of Universities for the Health for All, Geneva, 15 May 1984)

HEALTH is defined by the WHO (World Health Organization of the United Nations) as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

In the light of the current Covid-19 crisis, more then even, there is a need for a change of route, from the disease to the well-being by not only thinking to manage this pandemic or the next ones  with vaccines but with a more complete state of well-being, as stated in the WHO definition of health.  Therefore, a more multidimensional cultural navigation  is needed for changing the current dominant paradigm of health as presence or absence of diseases or infirmity.  Let's collaborate all together for a new Well-Being World, to be launched  on Human Rights Day 2020, 10 December, with a global artists.

Extract From David Ecker's paper “Cultural Navigations”presented at the International Forum “The Well Being in the XXIst Century, held in Carloforte, Sardinia, Italy, in 1992.

The idea of a kind of “cultural navigation” arose out of this initial discussion, the notion that what was required of us was to re-think the significance of Columbus’s landing in the light of a new global awareness of interdependence.  Further meetings generated a veritable “fleet” of proposals.  One of these proposals, made by Dr. Sandro Dernini of Plexus International, is now reaching fruition, a Reconciliation Forum to address the question of what will constitute well-being in the 21st Century for all the inhabitants of the globe.   For many of us, the initial idea of cultural navigation led quickly to the question of cultural identity.  

The nutritional, social, ethical and economic aspects of well-being will undoubtedly receive critical attention in the proceedings of the Forum.  But surely the artistic and aesthetic dimensions of life as we live it must figure in any formulation of a comprehensive vision of well-being. 

The arts make visible our cultural identity and provide a direct measure of the vitality of the culture in which a particular art object or event is embedded.  It follows that the arts have a special role to play in relation to the well-being of the members of each of the cultures of the world.

For one organization represented here, ISALTA, it is not enough to document the arts in their cultural settings, but to take steps to enhance the arts and thus the quality of the lives people live.  The name of this intentional group states its purpose:  The International Society for the Advancement of Living Traditions in Art.  Historically,  artistic decline accompanies the loss of cultural identity.  The felt need to preserve the meaning of a tradition in modern life is directly proportional to the loss of spiritual and material well-being of the artists and artisans sustaining their own cultures. Western solutions to the world’s misery, suffering, and destruction have tended in the 20th Century to be technological and humanistic, whereas earlier they tended to be religious or political solutions.  In the name of science, human nature, or God, the assumption underlying these solutions is that they transcend culture and have universal efficacy.  In contrast, we believe that the very meaning of “doing good for others” is culture-bound, as is the word “art”.

Cultural crises, whether caused by natural or man-made, whether caused by forces from outside or within a particular culture, are ideally to be resolved on the terms set by the affected culture.  What this ideal suggests is that there should be no “privileged discourse” in multicultural exchanges.  Communication on both “inside” and “outside” understandings of issues affecting well-being in the 21st Century must be encouraged from all cultural perspectives.  

PLEXUS, as founded by Sandro has sustained many incarnations through world-wide initiatives. Perhaps one of the most recent undertakings was the world wide celebration of Human Rights Day, December 12, 2018.  With Plexus, Sandro with many colleagues, and especially David Ecker, established many living traditions and challenged past cultural inequities and crimes against humanity.

 MACRO is the equivalent of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, but maybe slightly higher rating for being more on the leading edge of arts movements and trends. It is an impressive structure that invites large scale installations, and PLEXUS represented a large scale installation of multiple artists as well as a connection with other sides via the Internet and projected as part of the happenings at MACRO. Human Right's Day as celebrated by PLEXUS was a collage of sight, sound, touch, and technology that unfolded in the spirit of a happening as those in attendance were treated to an abundance of simultaneous activities throughout the museum. Maestro Riccardo Santoboni with his magical trombone, often provided musical commentary as well as leading spontaneous parades through the space. Bodies entrapped in mummy-like encasings wandered through the space until they spontaneously erupted in breaking free of the shackles through dancing and celebrations as they moved from confinement to freedom.

Participating Artists in PLEXUS Human Rights Day at MACRO.

This celebration at MACRO was an extraordinary happening, not unlike those of earlier days when spontaneous eruptions of collaborating artists created unique events throughout New York City in unexpected places such as abandoned buildings, warehouses, theaters, and the Projects. This group photo is on the outside steps of MACRO around 9 p.m. as HUMAN RIGHTS DAY wound down to a close, having begun as a celebration 12 hours earlier, but even a day before December 12, as they installed their works throughout the museum. An almost infinite continuum or trail of artworks submitted to be archived by PLEXUS could be seen throughout the space, followed as a path through the other installations. To document, I made a video of my tracing the path through the museum, but as I walked came upon showings or happenings that were taking place by the many collaborating artists. In many ways, this visitors that came to witness the event became a part of the installation, so that in fact, everyone became a work of art as they shared this extraordinary moment in time. In this sense, everyone was a collaborator, an instigator and reveler in this spontaneous interaction of shimmering facets of activity.

This is why I felt compelled to not let this celebration go unnoticed. It seems more than coincidence that as I left IMPACT and started to chart a new course for my post NYU career, that independently I came up with ARC (ARTS RENAISSANCE COLLABORATIVE), as a new path to pursue and research all I learned in collaboration with faculty, staff, participants, and students during my time at New York University. How stunning a revelation to see the flag raised by PLEXUS as the ARK of WELL-BEING. How well this Ark serves the dedication to the ideas launched in the 90s for NAVIGATING GLOBAL CULTURES. My own sense of ARC, also saw the metaphor of a vessell, but in addition the sense that ARC represents connection, a span to the future and well-being, but also as energy, that spark that ignites a revolution of BEING and MEANING. In these troubling times, Sandro Dernini's quest to maintain PLEXUS as Arts Advocacy for Human Rights and Well-Being has kept the organization at the forefront of relevant metaphysical and spiritual inquiry.

DR. TED COONS' 90th YEAR FESTSCHRIFT

On March 7, 2020, Dr. Edgar Coons of New York University was honored at Ted Coons Festschrift was presented at the NYU King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center in honor of his 90th year. A Festchrift is a volume or archive compiled in a celebration as a tribute to a scholar, writer, artist or accomplished figure, producing materials consisting of articles, essays, presentations related to the honoree's work and career. 

As a pioneer in neuro research, Dr. Coons career has produced leading researchers and scholars who have uncovered new terrain with regard to the brain and its functions. He himself has produced many breakthrough studies, and his students have gone on to distinguish themseles as leaders in this field.

This celebration was on the eve of the Pandemic crisis. Even at this meeting, participants were touching elbows rather than shaking hands. The participants are too numerous to identify here, so I will contextualize it with how my relationship with this remarkable man led to me presenting at this celebration.

I was invited by Ted to be a Co-Sponsor for The First International Conference on MIND, BODY AND THE PERFORMING ARTS in 1985 as I was serving as Director and Chair of NYU Steinhardt's Music and Performing Arts. (At that time, the school was still known as the School of Education, then, School of Education, Health, Nursing, and Arts Performance (SEHNAP), and finally, Steinhardt.)
I had begun my career at NYU with first contact in 1968, and Ted had begun his career in the School of Arts and Sciences a few years earlier than that. The conference was the first of its kind and it made news, attracting a number of outstanding artists, educators, doctors, and researchers. It was a series of coincidences that led to my meeting Dr. Coons, and I was fortunate that these events led to establishing a life-long friendship that was often shared at NOHO STAR, a restaurant that was near NYU, populated by artists, writers, students, musicians, and celebrities. It no longer exists, and we shifted our times to LAYFETTE, a restaurant a block from the NOHO STAR.

Coincidences shape the future.It was on the basis of that Mind Body conference that I was invited to share the findings as part of Ted's 90th Year Festschift.  If it had not been for the conference, I likely would have never met Ted. I met Ted through a doctoral student who had come to our department to pursue a PhD in Music Performance. The PhD in Music Performance was one of the first programs I created when I joined NYU. I was brought to NYU by. Dr. Jerrold Ross who had been the president of the New York College of Music. While at Columbia University studying for my doctorate, I became the composition student of David Simon, who also happened to be the registar of the New York College of Music. David had been impressed by our conversations about higher education. He recommended me to Dr. Ross.  The PhD in Music Performance was the first of its kind, and it attracted extraordinary musicians who were also interested in the research.  One such student was John Kella, the principal violist for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. His registration in Ted's research class led to discussions that resulted in creating the conference and brought me into partnership with Ted Coons.

As we rode in a taxi up Sixth Avenue for a fundraising event for the festival, we discovered our mtual past.

TED: I don't know much about you. Where are you from?
JVG: You wouldn't know it. It's just a town in Texas.
TED: I might know. Where?
JVG: Amarillo...
TED: I know Amarillo. Did you know the Amarillo Conservatory of Music?
JVG: Yes.
TED: Did you study at the conservatory?
JVG: Yes.
TED: Well, I also studied at the conservatory. Did you study with Gladys Glenn?
JVG: Why, yes I did.
TED: I also studied with Gladys Glenn. Small world isn't it?

Because Ted is nine years my senior, I was in a different world from his. He was studying at the Conservatory in his teens, when I was just entering grade school, so our worlds never met. Yet, we shared a common background.

Ted's Festchrift was a true celebration, revealing the many layers of talents and achievements that have accrued over the illustrious years of his career.  It's impossible to report the full scope of presentations that were unveiled that day. The first presentation by Dr. Richard Young set the tone, as he reviewed Ted's remarkable career that launched the research careers of his many students, including Dr. Young himself. His point was that Ted's contributions are so vast and different, that anyone from the outside might view his work the way six blind men, in the familar proverbial story, tried to describe an elephant by just touching. After an entertaining and enlightening presentation, Dr. Young and his wife, Alice Zhu, presented Dr. Coons with an award that recognized him as a mentor, but as Ms. Zhu described, the word MENTOR does not do justice to a Chinese concept of the Teacher/Mentor/Spiritual Guide that the award represents. Even our cherished words of MAESTRO and MENSCH do not convey the cultural and spiritual import of the word.

This was a wonderful presentation and the conferring of the award set an appropriate tone for the ongoing celebration, as colleagues and former students and protegees paraded to the podium to honor Ted's extraordinary career as educator, adminstrator,  artist, writer, composer, and philosopher. Perhaps the only thing missing was Ted's recent stint as a Film Producer for his former student, Nathan Cutucci, the writer and director for IMPOSSIBLE MONSTERS, a film that while having mixed reviews, "marks an impressive debut effort"... "with quite a few engaging twists and turns."

Dr. George Smith, founder of IDSVA (Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts) recently served as the first recipient of Professorship in New Philosophy, created through a generous to donation to IDSVA by Dr. Ted Coons to fund the position. Dr. Smith's book The Artist-Philosopher and New Philosophy maintains that Western Metaphysics has come "an end" as posited by Heidegger. What will emerge is the artist-philosopher who "poeticizes" new philosophy spanning arts in all forms and penetrating culture in all its locations. Dr. Smith recounted his experiences with Ted, and his energy, spontaneity and artistic sensibility. He has with him, Ted's English translation of a Rilke poem which he made for the purpose of setting the poem to music. He invites Ted to share his translation, and we were afforded a sensitive and spontaneous moment through his reading.

Former Protege and student, Dr. David Rosenboom, composer, researcher and the Richard Seaver Distinguished Chair in Music at CalArts and Dean of the Department presented his connection with Ted during the early days of The Electric Circus. I had met David as a young, pioneerng artist through a course I developed at NYU called EXPANDED MUSIC, and we visited the artist at his studio and tried to emulate some of his methods and techniques. David Rosenboom's presentation celebrated his relationship with Dr. Coons and also shared works that had been performed in a retrospective of David's prolific 50 years as a composer of new music and creator of countless new techniques in artistic collaboration and new ways of creating music, including ingenious use of bio-feedback in several contexts.

Among the presenters was Dr. Kathleen Riley, who received her PhD in Piano Performance in our department at NYU, while I was Director and Chair.  Kathleen was doing pioneering research using the Yamaha Disklavier technology to diagnose differences in interpretation of works, but ultimately to detect physical problems faced by pianists over the span of long careers.  Ted played an important role in the formative years of this research, providing her with space for her Yamaha Disklavier as well as advice and support for research projects. From this experience she developed an expertise in identifying what in many instances would be career-ending physical disorders, and providing remedies that saved and extended professional careers. She continues to build on these data through her INTENTION-The Power of the Heart.

 A moment of reflection as we conclude with Dr. Ted Coon's reading of his translation of Rilke's Poem Sonnet #9.

                                            Dr. Ted Coons Reads His Translation of Rilke Poem