Mary Knysh
Art Form(s):Artist Statement
I believe that self-expression through music is a joyful and positive form of communication available to every individual regardless of previous experience. My love for the language of music and musical self-expression and my belief in their potential for personal growth, enhancing creativity, fostering cooperative non-verbal communication, and growing community have led me to expand my knowledge and experience with music improvisation and world music. My goal is to create accessible and fun opportunities for others to discover, explore, and learn about the world and, more importantly, about themselves, through the exploration of world musical styles, ethnic instruments, and music improvisation. My teaching encapsulates Orff’s well-known quote, “Tell me, I forget. Show me, I remember. Involve me, I understand.”
Artist Bio
Mary Knysh is a professional musician, multi instrumentalist, recording artist, innovative workshop facilitator, and educator. Over the past 25 years she has traveled throughout the United States and Europe offering performances, workshops, and artist residencies with a wide range of educational, health care, and community groups. Mary is a certified Orff Schulwerk clinician and has presented at Orff conferences throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia. She is an artist on the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts roster, the Young Audiences of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania roster, and for New York BOCES.
Mary is a master teacher with Music for People in both the United States and Switzerland. Music for People is an organization under the artistic direction of cellist David Darling that promotes self-expression through music improvisation. Mary has studied a broad range of ethnic music traditions, including African, Southern Indian, Caribbean, Indonesian, South American, and others.
Mary is the co-author of BoomDoPA, a guidebook for facilitating ethnic-influenced music improvisations activities with groups of any age and experience. Mary’s resource materials include “Drumming and Storytelling” (DVD 2007) and “Rhythms All Around” (CD/activity book combination).
Mary’s CDs include “WalkAbout” (2004), “Rhythms All Around” (2005), “Sussurus” (2000), and “Heart Like a Feather” (1998).
