Music CD Created by Rhythms Teacher and Student

Left to Right: Cantor Neil Blumofe, Jonathan Singer

"One of the gifts that Melton gave me this year was the opportunity to get to know Cantor Neil Blumofe, who teaches the Rhythms section in Austin, Texas Mini-School," says Jonathan Singer, a student at the Mini-School. "Neil would illustrate his lessons with chants or prayers."

In other classes Neil sings alternative melodies to familiar songs. "The songs convey an emotion and a sense of place that words seldom deliver," says Jonathan.

"My goal is not to shade our historical musical memory with contemporary sonorous sensibilities; rather it is to imprint our Jewish lives with the impression of music, made sacred in part by the handing down of melody from generations immemorial and at the same time, improvising from these modes and rhythmic patterns," explains Neil Blumofe, Mini-School teacher. It is Neil's belief that since there is never an identical Jewish wedding, nor, at the same time, is Kol Nidre always experienced the same way, by hearer or by singer, our learning is enlivened by many paths. "Informing our received written tradition with the power of our music can only encourage us to continue to learn, engage and feel the endless depth of our Judaism."

"Towards the end of class I wanted to keep my education going," explains Jonathan. "I didn't know most of the alternate melodies that Neil had demonstrated. My knowledge of the prayers was limited and I found myself lost in services, wanting to sing along but not having the background to do so."

Jonathan approached Neil and asked him if he would be willing to record some prayers, chants and other tunes that he had sung in class. "He was really excited about the idea," says Jonathan. "Initially I imagined Neil would sing into my minidisk recorder, but after mentioning the project to a few of my classmates, they all said they wanted a copy."

"The idea of this unique CD grew directly out of my teaching experience and my relationships with my students in our Melton "Rhythms" class," explains Neil.

In Neil's weekly meetings, he built music and melodies that are part of traditional Jewish prayer modes (nusakh) into the teaching material to help bring words and discussions to life. "Building on our textual discussions regarding our Jewish holy days and lifecycle events, I strove to offer my students aural experiences based on the subtle depth of Jewish time as expressed through music," says Neil. "Questions flowing as currents in our learning, became: What does Jewish music sound like? Why is how you say something as important as what you say? What makes the Jewish (sacred) music experience unique? How can you celebrate and observe holy days and sacred moments in heightened awareness based on the midrashim that music helps us see?"

"The CD itself was inspired by the passions of my student, Jonathan Singer, who wanted to share with everyone at the end of the year what we had experienced in class as a lasting record. It is his inspiration, coupled with the motivation and encouragement of my other students, that enabled us to begin a multi-dimensional approach to learning," says Neil.

"I'm really grateful for the opportunity for this to have been introduced into my life. I'm so happy that so many people have found pleasure in the CD," says Jonathan.

Selections of the melodies and chants can be heard at www.RootMusic.org.