Entry 08
Reflection from R.I.T.M.O. workshop by Tupac Mantilla
RITMO WEBSITE: https://www.tupacmantilla.com/ritmo
I deeply appreciated the level of dedication that went into creating such a powerful and systematic methodology, which allowed me to learn so much in just three days.
As a singer and vocal coach, I know how challenging it can be for many people to connect with their bodies and feel the rhythm intuitively. Often, the struggle goes beyond just the rhythm itself.
Since rhythm isn’t something that can be easily explained with verbal instruction or just visual demonstration, teaching it can be tricky and frustrating.
I’m so grateful to have learned from Tupac—an exceptional teacher, guide, and facilitator who truly understands the multiple layers of rhythm and the human experience. He knows how rhythm speaks to us cognitively, physically, emotionally, and physiologically. He expertly guides us to engage with our whole selves, helping us experience different layers of rhythm. As an educator, I learned so much just by observing his teaching methods. Plus, Tupac is an amazing artist, and it’s pure joy and magic to watch him perform.
As a music therapist, I’m aware of how rhythm can impact health, but I needed to enhance my ‘rhythmic vocabulary’ and overcome limitations like finding suitable instruments and tools for sessions.
I’m thrilled to have upgraded my ‘rhythmic language’ during RITMO. What’s even more incredible is that this workshop enables maximum use of ‘self’ as a tool, allowing me to use my body to create rhythm and help my clients engage their bodies more throughout the process.
The best part is that these learnings aren’t just ‘dead’ textbook knowledge stored in my memory. They’ve become a living, breathing knowledge within my mind and body.
This was a holistic learning experience, and the growth extended beyond just the individual level. As a group, we connected deeply through the rhythm work and grew together.
I’m so excited to see how these experiences will unfold in my life.
Here are the key takeaways from the workshop:
Clapping System: Wow! A simple clap can change so many things. Just with clapping, you can play a song.
Super Cool Body Rhythm Sequence: I’ve gained so many tools to apply with my clients and students, including how to break down and adjust the complexity of rhythms, and how to design an effective learning process.
Dance: This brought a new level of appreciation for rhythm and how to engage my body to truly feel the flow of the rhythm.
Embracing Challenges: I learned new ways to welcome challenging thoughts and difficulties.
Rest: I slept so well!
Connections: I made friends with some awesome people.
Now as an organizer of the workshop, that ‘crosses boundaries, and integrates varieties’
I was so grateful that this event really brought the right people to the right space. I felt so supported. Actually - rational and logical calculation of organizing such an event within this period was not financially making sense, yet as a whole it did serve the purpose it had to serve.
But in anything I did previously, there were many attempts that in ‘practical’ sense, was not meant to be logical. I believed more in the ‘purpose’ than the outcome. And when I trusted the calling that came within myself as a purpose, somehow - it led me to the new stage of learning, growth, in an unexpected way.
And, it also leads me to thoughts on the future direction..
I see that these kinds of works are highly applicable not only in the field of ‘music’, ‘education’, but in ‘personal development’, ‘group facilitation’, ‘health & therapy’, and ‘art / performance’, ‘corporate culture’, ‘leadership’ and more.
This is the kind of workshop that crosses the conventional ‘boundaries’ of profession or field of specialization.
And the reason why such a thing can be possible, is because the developer of a methodology was based on a deep understanding and mastery, and extensive considerations of how the ‘workshop’ can make an impact on more than one aspect of our function as an individual or as a community.
And SG is a small country, where many great initiatives are made and many people are championing in their own field of work. And I believe in music and art as a powerful tool that can allow such a variety of professional communities to come together and grow, exchange learnings and strengthen their own field of practice.
This kind of workshop is really a open market place - within the process people will gain what they seek - teachers will get what they need for teaching, musicians will get what they need for making better music, clinicians will get what they need for clinical work, weak people will find rest and strength, and humans will get what they need to be a better version of themselves.
But this as a concept is not ‘easy’ and ‘straightforward’ to explain, organize, and sell. Therefore communications need to be strategic, and efforts need to go into building relationships with relevant partners.
