Mushfiq Arts Company

Vocal

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 17:06:52 -0500

Mushfiq Hashimi is the principal vocal teacher at the Mushfiq Arts Centre. Mushfiq Hashimi has a Masters degree in music from the Rotterdam Conservatory in Holland. He has trained under maestros such as Prof. Robin Chatterjee, Smt. Krishna Chatterjee, Shri. Buddhadev Dasgupta, Shri. Vidhyadhar Vyas, Shri. Kostav Rai, Connie de Young, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia and Pt. Ajoy Chakraborthy. Mushfiq is the disciple of Pt. Ajoy Chakraborthy – the torchbearer of the Patiala Gharana (school of music).

In addition to North Indian Classical music, Mushfiq has spent many years mastering the techniques of ghazal gayaki (music). Qawwalis, Indian and Afghan folk music, light Classical music and popular Bollywood tunes are some of the other genres of music taught at the school. Each student of vocal music receives a foundation in North Indian Classical music after which an area of speciality can be pursued.

Mushfiq's rich Afghan heritage has given him a deep understanding and appreciation for the poetic works of Sufi poets such as Abdul Hamid Aseer(Qhandi Agha), Maulana Jalaludin Balkhi (Rumi), Mirza Abdul Qadir Bedil and Kabir, to mention a few. He also sets to music poetry of Mirza Ghalib, Hafiz, Nasir Khusrao, Ahmad Faraz and several others. Mushfiq shares these literary gifts with his students to enrich their musical experience and expertise.

The Centre offers a holistic approach to the teaching of music with a unique process that includes guidance on public performance; acoustics and sound recording. The Centres' teaching methodologies have two major focal points: vocal technique and the art of raga music. This technique facilitates optimal use of an individuals' voice, while pursuing melodies in the desired structure of a raga.

In keeping with this holistic approach, Mushfiq Arts Centre tries to bring families of students into this artistic learning, so that instead of confining the musical experience to the classroom and practice sessions alone, students get a thriving artistic environment at home. www.mushfiq.ca

Press and Reviews

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 17:05:17 -0500

Mushfiq Ensemble at Calgary Folk Festival
Calgary Folk Music Festival staff
Mushfiq:

A belated thanks for performing at the 28th Annual Calgary Folk Music Festival and for your wonderful card...it was very sweet of you to send such thorough and glowing feedback! 50,000 folks over 4 days basking in the sunshine listening to the 67 artists we programmed was a glorious thing. There were so many great shows and fabulous sessions with the kind of collaborations that make me proud and thrill the audience. You did a wonderful job in your concerts and sessions. I thought the one with you, Moshav and the Crooked Jades was particularly strong. Canada's lucky to have such fantastic, authentic global artists residing here.

The Technique Belongs to All the World
Toronto Star
Buzz Section, April 15, 2007
Mushfiq Ensemble brings taste of Afghan music to Toronto. By John Terauds

Folk Alliance invades Memphis
American Journal of Jam and Roots: Honest Tune (Oxford, Memphis)
Artists like the Mushfiq Ensemble brought a touch of the Middle East to the stage, contrasting nicely with the bluegrass pickers and soulful acoustic folk music. Playing qawwali and a little Indian classical music, the Ottawa, Ontario-based but Afghani-bred act was nothing short of mesmerizing, even though no one could really understand the dialects of the lyrics, as lead singer Mushfiq Hashimi speaks about 8 languages over the course of a show.

Written by Josh Mintz
Tuesday, 27 February 2007

Moheb Hashimy: December 29, 2006
CBC Television
Persian Calligraphy demonstration at the Museum of Civilization's Petra Exhibit (Quebec, Canada)

Photographic Exhibit - woman journalists in Afghanistan
EMBASSY - Canada's Foreign Policy Newsweekly. Date Oct 11, 2006

Photo - The Mushfiq Ensemble with the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Canada Omar Samad and his wife Korsheid Samad. (Photo, no press review of our performance)

Workshop Success
ART BEAT, Erin Barnhardt Ontario Council of Folk Festivals
With great enthusiasm, compassion, humour and knowledge, Mushfiq Hashimi offers students new opportunities to see the world in different ways, encouraging them to take part in the making and appreciation of music. By introducing young ears, minds and hearts to diverse sounds and ideas, Mushfiq is able to explore and unfurl the unique aspects of each student's personality, and bring the collective to a common place, where they are able to share, play and learn together. His dedication to promoting music education, by connecting with students and teachers in the community, is an outstanding example of the potential for creating change and positive action through expression and creativity. It was an honour to have Mushfiq Hashimi and the Mushfiq Ensemble as a part of the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals' community outreach program, ART BEAT, this year! Mushfiq's ART BEAT workshops at Manor Park Public School in Ottawa culminated in beautiful and inspired performances and artwork, displaying both the results of Mushfiq's pedagogy and the brilliance of youthful interpretation and imagination.

NAC Arts Fair
The Ottawa Citizen - Date: Sept 15, 2006
Said Hashimy of the Mushfiq Arts Company plays the tabla during the NAC Arts Fair. (Photo. No press review of our performance)

M!M!M! Masala! Mehndi! Masti!
DESICLUB.com
"Meraqsam" is performed by Canada's Mushfiq. This is a soulful classical song, which is beautiful because of its simplicity. Although I'm not able to understand some of the Urdu lyrics, the vocal clarity is exquisite. The Tabla is strong without being overwhelming along with the harmonium's subtle accompaniment. Mushfiq is a vocal ensemble based in Ottawa lead by Ustad Moheb Hashimy, specializing in Afghani and Hindustani music styles. This is one of those songs you would enjoy listening to because it reminds you of a time where artists actually sang and paid attention to quality versus quantity.

Registration

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 17:04:00 -0500

Welcome to Mushfiq Arts Company

Education is the principal objective of the Mushfiq Arts Company.

We welcome interest from individuals of all ages and exposure levels.

Beginner to advanced level training is provided at this institution of learning and creativity.

You can download the Student Registration Form below:
Student_Registration_Form.pdf

The Mushfiq Arts Company is a one of its kind South Asian arts organization founded with the mission of promoting, teaching and enhancing awareness and appreciation of South and Central Asian arts and heritage. Founded by Said Mushfiq Hashimi in 2003, the Mushfiq Arts Centre teaches both visual and performing arts. Ustad Said Mushfiq Hashimi and Ustad Said Moheb Hashimy are the teachers at the Mushfiq Arts Centre.

Things to remember:
1. Registration...
Tuition fees: $160/semester (8 classes). Cheque payable to Mushfiq Arts Co. Inc. A one-time registration fee of $20 is charged when you first enroll with the Centre.

2. Group class structure...
Minimum group size 4 students to a maximum of 6. Group classes are charged at $15/student/class.

3. Four students' performances are held during the year (1 every three months) where each student has the opportunity to perform with Ustad Mushfiq and Ustad Moheb among their peers. This activity is mandatory to the learning process. You will be charged $10/performance, per adult attending the performance. Children under 10 years will be charged $5.

Semester renewal and payment options....

4. Tuition fees can be paid using one of the following 3 options:
- Direct deposit. Provide a void cheque to initiate this option.
- Post dated cheques or cash for a 3-month period.
- Monthly payment. Cheques will need to be provided in the last week of the month.

5. You have the opportunity to make up your missed class during the semester itself. If you are not able to make up a class during the semester, your time will not be carried forward.

Cancellation policy...
6. You will be required to provide at least 48 hours notice if you cannot attend a class. Your attention to this will be appreciated as it facilitates scheduling and optimal use of time.

7. The Centre will inform you if the teachers are not going to be able to teach. They will re-schedule your class for sometime in the given semester.

Instrument Purchase, Rental and Maintenance...
8. If you are learning an instrument, you must have regular access to the instrument for practice purposes at home. Instruments such as tabla, harmonium, tanpura, sitar, electronic tanpura (Ragini), electronic tabla (Talmala) can be purchased at the Mushfiq Arts Co. Inc.

9. Instruments can also be rented to facilitate the learning and practice process. Maintenance requests will be taken by the Mushfiq Arts Co. at a charge.
Instrument purchase is a final purchase.

10. There is no-refund and/or no-exchange on this. Tuning requests will be taken at a charge depending on the instrument and the amount of work involved.

11. Minor maintenance such as string change, skin change on a tabla, repairs etc. will be taken at a charge depending on the amount of work involved.

Indian Classical and light classical music, Indian and Afghani folk music, qawwalis, ghazals are some genres of vocal music taught at the centre. Said Mushfiq is a formally educated, trained and professional practicing musician. He is the disciple of Pt. Ajoy Chakraborthy. Said Mushfiq has a Masters degree from the Rotterdam Conservatory in Holland. He is also a trained painter, sketcher and a 7th generation promoter and practitioner of Arabic and Persian calligraphy. He teaches these forms of visual arts at the centre as well. In addition, Said Mushfiq also teaches instrumental music such as Harmonium, Sitar and keyboard.

Said Moheb Hashimy is the tabla and percussion teacher at the Centre. He is the disciple of Ustad Arif Chisti of the Punjab Gharana. Said Moheb has been teaching for 15 years in 4 different countries around the world. He is a percussionist of renown, is a composer and a professional performing artist. In addition to his professional training as a musician, Said Moheb has a degree in teaching methodologies, which makes him versatile and effective with various student age groups.

Said Mushfiq and Said Moheb are continually invited as visiting faculty at external arts and educational institutions to demonstrate and teach their art forms.

The teachers' recommendations:
1.Respect everything and everyone around you - it is one of our key values at the Centre.
2.Come into the centre in the spirit of learning and humility.
3.Take advantage of performing opportunities at the Centre...it enhances your learning.
4.We will recommend attending concerts/performances/ etc. to you, if we feel you might benefit from it in your learning process.
5.Volunteer in Centre activities. It is an opportunity for you to learn the "behind-the-scenes" aspects that go into creating a show or completing a project.
6.We will offer many additional group classes throughout the year to ensure a comprehensive learning process for you. It is in your interest to take advantage of these opportunities. (e.g. tala class, qawwali class, riyaz (practice) class, sangat class etc.)
7.We often work with the media (CHIN, CBC etc.) Once in a while, we might call upon some students to share the limelight with us.
8.We are open to feedback and suggestions. Please feel free to talk to either one of us.

For information please call (613) 521-2736 or email us at info.mushfiq@yahoo.com

We are happy to welcome you to the continually growing family of love and respect at the Mushfiq Arts Co.

Press Kit

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 16:45:10 -0500

Click on the links below to download:

High Resolution Color Photos
mushfiq.jpg
(2322 x 2943 - 2.34MB)

Mushfiq Ensemble Biographies
ensemble_biography.pdf

Technical
ensemble_technical.pdf
(Set List and Basic Requirements)

Painting

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 16:44:21 -0500

Mushfiq the Artist

Most of Mushfiq's watercolors are motivated by nature at its best. His works have captured the essence of nature in winter, summer and fall. Some of his oil paintings are inspired by his life in Afghanistan. These works are expressions of a variety of emotions & traditions. The magic of his brush creates outstanding pieces of art in a matter of minutes, in a seemingly effortless manner.

Visual Arts at the Centre

The Mushfiq Arts Centre offers training in sketching, watercolors, oil painting, portraits, and "life" drawing at the school. As with all art forms offered at the school, training ranges from basic to the advanced level of teaching. Mushfiq strives to make the most complex aspects of the learning process as straightforward and effective as possible. He has a scientific understanding of colors and their energy, which make his creations exquisite.

The school offers both individual and group visual art lessons. Mushfiq can also be engaged to conduct workshops on any one particular form of visual art or a combination of art forms.

News

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 16:43:00 -0500

Mushfiq Arts Company proudly presents a cd launch concert "Bahami - Unity" where the first ever student cd from Mushfiq Arts Company , Inc. will be released to public.

This will be a festive lunch hour celebration at 12 noon followed by a concert at 2pm featuring the student performers. The students will then be followed by a concert with the Mushfiq Ensemble, featuring a range of numbers from traditional classical items to popular Bollywood hits. This celebration will finish with a dance party with DJ services provided by Intizzar Productions.

Location:

Rinag Foods Inc.

88 Jamie Ave. Nepean, On K2E 6T6

Sunday November 29, 2009

Time: Lunch and Bazaar 12 - 1:30pm

Tickets purchased before November 20^th will include a delicious lunch catered by Rinag Foods.

Call: 613 521-2736 or 613 862-8856 to reserve your seat or info.mushfiq@yahoo.com

http://www.mushfiq.ca/

Said Mushfiq Hashimy

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 16:42:09 -0500

Said Mushfiq Hashimi is a master of Indian classical music, a composer, an accomplished painter and calligrapher, an actor and former professor of Kabul University as well as an experienced music and art educator.

Born in Kabul, he holds a Bachelor degree from the University of Kabul where he studied Theatre and a Master's degree in Music from Holland's renowned Rotterdam Conservatory. His first training in Eastern classical music under Rubin Chatterjee and Krishna Chatterjee, took place in Kabul. Later, Mushfiq entered the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music, Holland, continuing his study of North Indian classical music under esteemed professors, including world-renowned Ajoy Chakraborthy. Mushfiq is the disciple of Pandit Ajoy Chakraborthy of the Patiala Gharana (school).

Mushfiq moved to Canada in 2001, where he settled in the nation's capital. The Canadian chapter of art education in Mushfiq's life started in 2002 with the establishment of a School of Music and Visual Arts Center, which includes a teaching school, a studio and art gallery. The school has been founded with the mission of promoting, teaching and enhancing awareness and appreciation of South and Central Asian arts and heritage. Mushfiq is an accomplished teacher, in that, he teaches all forms of art from basic to advanced levels, in a simplistic and effective manner. The Mushfiq Arts Centre is home to students of all ages and cultural backgrounds. A full time teacher of art, Mushfiq is dedicated to the cause of education. He believes that the only way to enrich his knowledge base is by sharing it with as many people as possible. He invests his artistic talent, technique and creativity in each student at the Mushfiq Arts Centre.

Mushfiq has also created a world music ensemble, the Mushfiq Ensemble, comprised of himself as the lead vocalist and harmonium player, a tabla player, a violinist and tanpura player as well as additional artists depending on the performance (Dholak, Oud, Sitar etc). Mushfiq Ensemble toured the Canadian folk festival circuit this past summer in addition to several house concerts and community events. Some of Mushfiq's recent collaborations include events with Mihirangee, Crooked Jades, Creaking Tree String Quartet, Carolina Chocolate Drops, to mention a few.

As a singer and musician, Mushfiq's goal is to develop a body of work that brings his Afghan heritage together with his musical training in North Indian classical music, blending Western vocal technique into his interpretations. Mushfiq's compositions are permeated with the colour of ragas, whether it is Persian poetry set in Ghazal or Qawwali style or whether it is an interpretation of new and old Afghan folk songs. Mushfiq performs in upto 12 different languages, which gives every audience member something special to remember. Dari (Farsi), Pashtu, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic, Russian, Dutch, are a few languages from the 12 that form part of Mushfiq's repertoire.

In addition to Mushfiq's wide presence in Canada, Mushfiq has had the opportunity to perform as a singer and harmonium player in European countries such as Holland, France, England, Germany and Austria as well as Eastern countries including Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and India.

Links To Press and Reviews

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 16:40:56 -0500

The Toronto Star - April 15, 2007
"The technique belongs to all the world"
www.thestar.com

Humanyms - April 23, 2007
www.pagehalffull.com

Small World Music Society - April 15, 2007
smallworldmusic.com

Vancouver Folk Music Festival - July 2007
www.thefestival.bc.ca

Calgary Folk Music Festival - July 2007
www.calgaryfolkfest.co

Urban Mixer - July 15, 2007
vancouver.urbanmixer.com

Ismaili Mail - April a5, 2007
ismailimail.wordpress.com

Mzizima Reunion - August 24, 2007
www.geocities.com/akmzizimareunion

Speak Music - March 22, 2007
www.speakmusic.homestead.com

Favorite Links

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 16:39:50 -0500

ITC Sangeet Research Academy
"The only Gurukul of its kind"
www.itcsra.org

Global Cafe
Online home of concert and festival promoter Derek Andrews
www.globalcafe.ca

CBC Radio 2
www.cbc.ca/radio2

Instrumental

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 16:38:47 -0500

Performing Arts - Instrumental:
The Mushfiq Arts Centre teaches a variety of instrumental music. Group and individual classes are offered for different instruments. Teachers recommend that a student has the instrument at home for practice and continuous development. Purchase, rental and rent to buy facilities for instruments are available at the Centre.

A student may wish to specialize in one particular instrument. However, in keeping with the teachers' philosophy of a well-rounded creative experience, they will introduce students' to other instruments as well as basics of voice training techniques as part of the learning process.

Sitar, Harmonium, Keyboard and Tabla are some of the instruments taught at the Centre. We offer Sitar, Harmonium and Keyboard training. This training is complimented by training in tabla and rhythm basics with the objective of ensuring the optimal "sur" and "laya" balance - harmony and rhythm.

Moheb Hashimy is the tabla teacher at the Mushfiq Arts Centre. Trained in the Punjab Gharana style of tabla, Moheb is a percussionist, composer and musician. He has been teaching all around the world for almost 15 years now. Moheb teaches students from basic to advanced levels and conducts workshops as well.