Existential Music, Decolonization, and Voice Care: A Conversation

Authors

• Ashwani Kumar, Mount Saint Vincent UniversityFollow
• Zaira Manila, Mount Saint Vincent UniversityFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3018-5208

Abstract

This article presents a reflective and dialogical exploration of music, meditation, and holistic well-being. It draws on the authors’ distinct musical backgrounds and personal experiences to explore structure and free flow in music, the impact of Western thought and colonialism on perceptions of Indian classical music (ICM), and the challenges in promoting ICM to younger audiences. Key points discussed include decolonization and cultural heritage, the journey from seeing ICM as “boring” to spiritual, viewing fusion as a respectful blend of musical forms, and the notion of existential music as music that exists within, waiting to be expressed. The dialogue format facilitated a co-construction of meaning, reinforcing the idea that understanding emerges organically through shared conversation.

Author Biography

Ashwani Kumar is Professor of Education at Mount Saint Vincent University (Halifax, Canada). His teaching and research focus upon meditative inquiry, which is a self-reflective and aesthetic approach to teaching, learning, researching, creating, and living. He is the author of two scholarly books: Curriculum As Meditative Inquiry and Curriculum in International Contexts: Understanding Colonial, Ideological, and Neoliberal Influences. He is the editor of Engaging with Meditative Inquiry in Teaching, Learning, and Research: Realizing Transformative Potentials in Diverse Contexts. He has served as the President of the Arts Researchers and Teachers Society. He is the recipient of the Mount Saint Vincent University President and Vice President’s Advanced Career Teaching Award 2022 and University of British Columbia Faculty of Education’s Alumni Educator of the Year Award 2022. Zaira Manila is originally from the Philippines, and she recently finished a Master of Education in Curriculum Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University. She previously taught Literature, Humanities, and Art Appreciation courses at the University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde.

Recommended Citation

Kumar, Ashwani and Manila, Zaira (2026) "Existential Music, Decolonization, and Voice Care: A Conversation," Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal: Vol. 11: Iss. 1, Article 8.
Available at: https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/atj/vol11/iss1/8