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Namah Project Empathy

Our inspiration begins with the Mother’s dance-form such as Kathak. Bol is a mnemonic
words, “The role of music lies in helping syllable. It is used to define the rhythm or
the consciousness to uplift itself towards the tal. The word bol comes from the Hindi verb,
spiritual heights (1).” bolna, which means ‘to speak or vocalise.’[3]

We believe that Music Therapy establishes
overall well-being, both as a feeling within
and external communication from the special
educator as caregiver to the children with
special needs as care receivers. The deeper
the communication becomes, the more
expressive the response that emerges from
the children, leading to an atmosphere of
empathy, collaboration and joy. As stated
in the book Music Therapy — an Art beyond For children, including those with special
Words by British music therapist Leslie Bunt, needs, we have observed that full body
“music therapy offers a unique opportunity learning seems to work well with better
to a handicapped child to uncover/discover retention, collaboration and motivation. Our
an ability previously not recognised. This can exercises with rhythm tap into vocalisation of
foster communication and build relationships phonemes, hand gestures and tapping, and
with adults and peers (2).” foot tapping, along with metaphors of Mother
Nature such as the flight of the pigeon and the
Rhythm is where we begin since we believe it walk of the elephant, open up the possibility
is innate in each one of us. Within Know Your of storytelling with rhythm. When we
Rhythm’s repertoire of immersive exercises, experience full body learning with the above,
when it comes to training the caregivers we are perhaps increasing the probability of
— ranging from primary school teachers, learning and therapy happening, including
special educators or even nurses — we have speech-therapy, motor skills, and fine-motor
focused on rhythm, and more specifically skills, potentially leading to better cognition.
on ancient Indian vocal percussion systems.
In the Carnatic system, solkattu is a well- Here are a couple of exercises from our Know
developed vocal percussion system with well- Your Rhythm’s repertoire.
coded phonemes and hand gestures, with The elephant walk:
applications to percussion instruments like
the Mridangam and also classical dance like Tak Dhina Dhin
Bharatnatyam. If we watch a Carnatic music Thun Dhina Dhin
concert, we observe both the performers
and the rasika, i.e. the listener tapping the Apart from vocalising the above couplet,
rhythm in resonance. In the Hindusthani we embody the elephant by swaying from
system, we have bols, also a well-encoded side to side in rhythm with the first syllable
vocal percussion system with applications in of the couplet above, namely Tak and Thun,
percussion instruments such as tabla and a with one of our hands taking the form of the

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