Education & BEYOND
Bassel & The Supernaturals is committed to building a better future for Syria, as well as for young artists and entrepreneurs all around the world. The group organizes events and residencies with educational, cultural, and charity organizations related to the band leader’s cultural heritage and professional experience in logistics management.
The Music of Storytelling
“The Music of Storytelling - Exploring Empathy Through Songs and Culture” is a 45-90 minute course which centers on the power of narratives in musical expression. We provide a brief history of music’s role in the oral tradition, share examples of story-telling folk songs from around the world, and demonstrate the varying emotional impact of different musical arrangements by playing music from our own catalogue.
For a final group activity, we write a song with the students in real time, using ideas from the student group to drive the number performed by our band, creating a musical story together.
This workshop is adaptable for all groups K-12 and beyond, focusing on expression and movement with younger groups, and highlighting reflection and cultural understanding with the older students, always centering on engagement.
LIVING THROUGH ART *^
“Living Through Art” is about inspiring passion through creative expression as a vehicle for emotional healing. For aspiring artists and professional artists who are already passionate about the arts, a series of workshops within this residency support taking their practice to the next level of sustainability.
THE ART OF LOGISTICS *^
More than half of an artist’s professional career resides in running their own business and managing their brand. This workshop explores the art of logistics and project execution by diving into the details of composition, production, presentation, distribution, and sustainability.
AMPLIFY PEACE %
Amplify Peace features American artists from the diaspora of predominantly Muslim countries impacted by war. Previous iterations of the tour highlighted Syria, raising awareness around one of the largest humanitarian crises of our lifetime and shining a light on U.S. based charity organizations such as the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), Karam Foundation, Syrian Community Network, and the Syrian American Council. The program features a dynamic, multi-genre performance by socially conscious artists along with a variety of educational packages featuring lectures, interactive workshops, and a Q&A.
* A result of collaboration with the Inner-City Muslim Action Network and their Sacred Cypher Creative program: a year-long fellowship including an Artist & Community Residency and Annual Retreat for artists working at the intersection of culture, social justice and community.
^ A result of collaboration with the Karam Foundation and the Karam House in Istanbul, Turkey: an educational center geared towards professional development for refugees.
% A result of collaboration with the Syrian American Medical Society, Intercultural Music Production, and Arab-American artists Asad Ali Jafri, Ronnie Malley, Kayem, and Omar Offendum.