Students were treated to innovative and inspiring workshops delivered by multi-talented poet, MC and rapper ‘Blaise’ or iAM13e as he is known in his professional world.
Oozing panache and cutting a dash in his bold red cap (visiting poets are immune from headgear rules) Blaise hosted a series of inventive workshops across Carshalton and Merton Colleges.
Groups of students gathered in The Dance Studio at Carshalton for the morning workshop; Blaise then hot-footed to the large open space at Merton College for the afternoon. Both settings became spaces for movement, music and a daring demonstration of the power behind words.
The sessions blended vocal and projection exercises, wellbeing and nervous system regulation tools as well as tips and tricks for speaking more clearly and confidently.
Following jaw-dropping spontaneous raps from students’ selected words and phrases - Blaise told the students "I don’t do this to impress you, rather to impress upon you the power of your words."
Turning the students’ words into poetry, the raps certainly did impress us. Who has ever thought of rhyming `a Joker’ with ‘a thought-provoker?’
He certainly made us think. The power of rhyme; the power of words.
iAM13e showed us his passion, wisdom and clever wordplay weaved into raps to a range of unsuspecting and delighted students.
Students learned the true meaning of “Hip Hop” and its definition - intelligent movement / to know why you move” (KRS ONE definition). Blaise dropped in nuggets of fascinating information injecting curiosity and interest in the assembled spectators . Here too was another way to look at rhyme, contrast and perspective. Teachers were twitching.
Hesitant, enthusiastic or curious, students were intrigued by various elements of the experience. The breathing or tapping exercises to calm and energise, the vocal projection and the students’ selection of words merged into a rap … English and communication suddenly took on a whole new meaning.
Some students have expressed or demonstrated how much they have been affected by the experience. Improvement in engagement is palpable in places along with a rise in self-belief.
Blaise opened up our hearts and minds that day. Maybe the breathing exercises calmed us, the new knowledge surprised us or the realisation that ‘my voice is strong’ intrigued us.
One thing is for sure… English classes just got cool.
Hopefully Blaise will come back and work his magic with more students next year.
Roxana Asad, English Tutor STCG.
