Performing Bolivian Music

 SS 107 Performing Bolivian Music (with Zacarías Rolando Encinas) Students will learn to play Bolivian music, while learning about the performance contexts in which these traditions are produced. Throughout this hands-on course, students will also have an opportunity to critically reexamine North American preconceptions about Bolivian music as “ethnic” music. Students will learn to play instruments and genres from the highland Andean Aymara region as well as mestizo-Creole genres that utilize European instruments (guitar, violin, mandolin, concertina, etc.). While a limited number of readings addressing Bolivian performance contexts will be discussed in the English language, the course will be conducted primarily in Spanish. But there is NO LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT for the course and students with no Spanish language experience are ENCOURAGED to take the course for the experience of immersion in musical and Spanish language practice. Students will work towards a public performance of this music by the end of January term.