This year I am undertaking postgraduate research at ARA in Ōtautahi. My subject is the ‘Tikanga of songwriting with Mātauranga Māori’. I am in my final two months of research.
Below is the first draft of the creative work for the research. I am about to embark on the second draft. However, I wanted to share this because I like its simplicity; the next draft will be more complex and dig deeper into the pain of colonization as I experience it. It may also include the sounds of some of the other beautiful Taonga Pūoro that Brian Flintoff has created for my research.
In this draft there are only three instruments – voice, kōauau and tumutumu kōhatu. The purpose of using the kōauau is to limit the voice to an interval of about a fourth. This allows for the exploration of microtones.
The title is simply ‘Rain’.
First draft of creative work exploring the decolonization of my creative practice. Post Grad research at ARA, Ōtautahi, Aotearoa.
I am a classical singer and guitarist.
I have created a project called 'The Lilli Lehmann Project'. The project, lasting from 2020 until 2023, aims to refresh my voice and prepare me to be a singing teacher.
The scope of the project is that I am studying Lilli Lehmann's singing book, bibliography, recordings and her reviews, as well as other historical vocal pedagogy.
I have chosen this platform in order to blog about my discoveries, demonstrate techniques and exercises, and perform pieces of music. I have done so because I wish to be transparent. I think that if a student is prepared to learn from me then I should stand up to public scrutiny.
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Deborah Wai Kapohe 