Creativity

Our Planet: 911 Emergency

July 19th, 2019 On July 10, 2019, a network representing more than “7,000 higher and further education institutions from six continents have announced that they are declaring a ‘climate emergency’, and agreed to undertake a three-point plan to address the

Read More

An Artist’s International Student Journey

Remembering Monir Farmanmaian (1924 –2019) May 3rd, 2019 Photo via: Keyhan Life Monir Farmanmaian, the Iranian female artist known for her mirror mosaics and geometric patterns passed away on April 20, 2019 at the age of 97 in Tehran.  Until

Read More

Global Youth

August 18th, 2017   Americans get a bad rap for speaking only English, of making no effort to learn the languages of other cultures. For the most part, this is true. Unlike Europe, where an hour drive might find you

Read More

Qawwali Music: The Mystical, Peaceful Side of Islam

September 30th, 2016 I first heard the Sufi devotional music called qawwali around 1982 on a WOMAD (World of Music and Dance) album. WOMAD was Peter Gabriel’s world music label and brainchild. This was right about the time when a bunch of

Read More

Sister Deborah and Ghana Jollof: Tasty Rice

This is a culinary tale–or rather competition–West African style. Last Sunday morning, I heard a story and song on NPR’s Weekend Edition about a rice rivalry in West Africa, particularly Ghana vs. Nigeria, surrounding a ubiquitous rice dish in the

Read More

Musical DNA Goes Everywhere Today

February 25th, 2016 James Brown’s 1968 hit “Say it Out Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” not only became a #1 R&B hit, the anthem for the Black Power movement, but also inspired new pride among countless Africans in newly-independent

Read More

Apollonian v. Dionysian Music Experience

January 28th, 2016 The other day, while listening to KCRW’s weekday program, Morning Becomes Eclectic, I was listening to a new Coldplay song called “Major Minus”, a big and absorbing musical tapestry that you can get lost in. I also thought

Read More

Six Great Music Educators

November 12th, 2015 A good music teacher can infuse inspiration and instill a lifelong love of music. I couldn’t relate at all to my super straight, rigid piano teacher when I was seven or eight, plus there was simply no

Read More

Top Mindfulness in School Resources

October 2nd, 2015 It’s a new school year and I’m excited about all of the momentum building to support mindfulness in schools at all ages. Here is a shortlist of favorite resources and programs available now to foster social-emotional intelligence,

Read More

Stay Updated with ACEI

Scroll to Top