An archive of Italian life in California, built from people's own words.
Education
Short, practical sessions on method and on the musical traditions of Italy, arranged on request.
Method and tradition
The Institute runs workshops in two directions. One set deals with the craft of oral history itself, from interviewing to cataloguing. The other opens up the musical and dance traditions that the Institute records, giving people a chance to learn them with their hands, feet and voices rather than only through books.
Seminars and lectures on interview technique, recording, note keeping, consent and the care of collected material, led by the Institute's director and experienced volunteers. These can be tailored for students, volunteers or community groups.
Music workshops on instruments from the oral traditions of southern Italy, including the tambourine, the jaw's harp and the friction drum, taught through rhythm, listening and play.
Dance workshops covering forms such as the pizzica tarantata, the tarantella and the tammurriata, as well as traditional dances of northern Italy, with attention to the occasions and meanings attached to each.
All workshops are arranged by special arrangement. Tell the Institute what your group would like to learn, how many people are involved and where you are based, and a session can be designed around it.
Write to [email protected] or call 310 474 1698 to discuss a workshop. The Institute can travel to your venue or work with a partner institution to host the session.