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Kashimana Ahua | Music
Kashimana Ahua | Music
Kashimana Ahua believes each new day brings a new song from within if we take the moments to write it. She believes that everyone should write songs and after she teaches she envisions leaving a strong community of songwriters ready to share their stories through songwriting.
Participants learn to use observation, listening, improvisation, collaborative writing and singing to develop their talents as songwriters. Participants learn about the building blocks of lyric writing, melody, improvisation, genres and arrangement. Together participants get to play at music creation, problem solving and supporting one another as you go on this unique journey of writing a song. Kashimana guides all skill levels from beginner to advanced songwriters in their development culminating in a sharing of songs and ideas. She uses several tools including pen and paper, GarageBand, a looping pedal, a guitar and her voice to allow for the creation of songs but she tries not to let the equipment get in the way of writing and encourages participants to use the tools they do have.
“Thank you for designing an experience that got families working together and connecting with each other! It was especially cool that you ended the workshops by encouraging people to continue using the skills they learned to keep writing songs at home!”
Kashimana holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition-Songwriting, a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences and an Associates Degree in Music Production. Kashimana performs as a solo, a duo and with her band Kashimana and The Halos and for the Power of 10 (Top 40 cover band). Kashimana was a 2019 Cedar Commissioned artist, the composer in residence for the In Common Willmar project, a 2018 and 2019 Northern Spark Festival artist, and 2020 Mn Music Coalition Summit Artist.
Learn more about Kashimana in her August 2020 Artist Spotlight Interview.
“Kashimana captured my attention the minute I met her. She is a warm, positive, very musical person, who listens. Kashimana spent a year working on the In Common project in Willmar, Minnesota. At all of them, she encouraged everyone in attendance, and developed lyrics and music with each group. I can honestly say that meeting and getting to know Kashimana through this project has been one of the best things personally and musically to happen to me in the last two years.”
Sample Programs: Customizable To Site’s Needs
Residencies
Inspire Songwriting
The goal of this residency is to create an environment where participants get excited about songwriting and just write. This residency is about exploring what we already know about music using our intuition and listening skills. Taking what we know right now and creating something first as a group, then in small groups and then individually. We create safe spaces for participants to explore songwriting and develop their musicianship.
Just Shine Songwriting
The goal of this residency is to guide participants in further finding their voice as composers and songwriters perfect for the beginning and intermediate songwriter. We develop our listening skills and deepen our musical vocabulary as we study different genres of songs. We use what we have learned to write, edit and improve our work by focusing on skills we would like to add to our toolbox as writers and creators of original music. Taking the time to let our songs shine.
Lyrics, Melody and Music - Voice Composing
During this residency participants will use their voices as instruments to create the lyrics, melodies and music that forms their songs. Using the looping pedal we will play, experiment and create songs in groups and individually. Learning to improvise on the fly and recording our creations for further exploration, editing and polishing.
Songwriters Performing and Practice
During this residency participants will focus mostly on editing, arranging/production and performance. Songwriters often are hesitant to share work but sharing work also allows you to do some final editing as you experience your song in a performance setting. We will use this residency to put together a short setlist to be used for performing or creating the framework for a recorded project like an album.
Life Story Songwriting Experience
What makes you, you? Tell your story by using the power of song. Write your own personal theme song or write a song to share with your family about your experience. This is the perfect activity to get your creative senior community in senior homes and assisted living communities socializing and expressing themselves. Creating music is great for overall health and well being.
Workshops
Engage Community Workshop
This is a Collaborative Songwriting Workshop can range from an hour to two hours and includes
Introduction and Musical Warm up
A discussion on songs we love
Education on songwriting
Story sharing about what brought us to this community.
Recording of themes that emerge into a song idea.
Work together as a collaborative group to choose the feel, and the lines that form the song.
Write, Improvise, Practice, Record and Share
Loops and Vocals
Short workshop encouraging writing by improvisation, the goal is to blend melody with lyric writing. We will also use the looping pedal to help people get started and if we don’t have the looping pedal we will take turns doing community singing and arranging.
Performances
Kashimana performs as a solo act, a duo, a quartet and band of 9 musicians. Each performance can be tailored for your event and experience. Each performance requires audience interaction and participation. All the songs are easy to learn and sing with several ways that the audience can get involved.
Love from the Sun Album
A performance of 'Love from the Sun' Album, a collection of 10 songs showing a variety of styles from Pop to Soul to Country and more. A feel good acoustic pop and soul sunshine vibes that can vary from an intimate solo show to a full band performance including nine musicians.
Phantom Cries Suite
This heavily vocal performance features 8 songs from the Phantom Cries Suite. The suite is a musical exploration on motherhood, the ups and down and maternal health. This piece can only be performed as a quartet or quintet.
SunBabies and Lullabies
What is a Sun Baby? Any one that loves the sun and loves to shine their light. Join Kashimana for an interactive performance and creation of warm and fuzzy lullabies and songs for Sun Babies.
Singing and Humming Mummies
An interactive performance that celebrates the power of singing and humming to create layers of melodies with the goal of soothing and relaxing harmonies together.
The Love-In
Songs about love featuring songs from artists like Lauryn Hill, India Arie, Tracy Chapman, Sade, Lianne La Havas and H.E.R.
Customizable Performance
A performance mixing all or a variety of the previous songs and elements to create a truly unique experience tailored to your event, institution, theme and community.
