products & services

As well as her albums of music, Kali has other products and a variety of services that she offers
which stem from her understanding, experience and skill with improvisation.
Covering different media and multiple areas of interest, details can be found in the sections below.

Products

Kali has written two extended documents, which are available in PDF format for a nominal fee, by sending a message through the contact page.

"An Approach to Improvisation in Music Education" (29 pages), giving instrumental music teachers different means to incorporate improvisation into their private lessons, and detailing the philosophy behind and benefits of including such material.
"An Approach to Creative Jazz Education" (114 pages), aimed at the academic student and teacher of jazz, covering every aspect of the music from fundamental cultural considerations through to theories of harmony. An attempt to promote a more holistic type of learning than the predominantly intellectual one most common in higher education at this time.

Kali has written instruction manuals for two different creative formats that he has devised. The first is an egalitarian method of structuring improv theatre rehearsals, the second a type of musical performance that brings together elements of modern and ancient musical techniques. Both are available in PDF format for a nominal fee, by sending a message through the contact page.

"An Introduction to the Church of Present Moment Improvisors (or CHIMP)" is a simple method of organising improv theatre rehearsals aimed at promoting a balance between self-belief and trust in others. It is for groups of 3 or more improvisors who are already working at a good level of competency. Inspired by the performance formats of Keith Johnstone and the spirit of democracy.
"Mantra Jam" is a format for structuring a performance by jazz and/or other improvising musicians. It is inspired by practices found in shamanism and sound healing, and the harmonic singing of David Hykes, Michael Vetter and particularly Nigel Charles Halfhide.. Mantra Jam is an attempt to realize the concept of a universal music in a formalized structure by returning to the collective, tribalistic and improvised roots of creative music.

With the help of a skilled programmer friend, Kali is currently developing an iPhone application called The Jazz Tarot, which aims to provide jazz and other creative musicians with a method of practice which emphasises flexibility and longterm interest over technical perfection. Functionality of the app is currently 80 percent complete, after which the aesthetic side has to be finished. Updates on progress will be posted here, but a 2021 release seems likely at present.

Services

Kali teaches private instrumental lessons for students of all ages in the Tokyo area, for saxophone, clarinet and ukulele.

In addition, she offers individualized tuition in music theory and improvisation, based on her own methods, which have proven to be effective and enjoyable.

Fees for these lessons are ¥8,000/hr plus an additional ¥500 for transportation, should the location require it. Please be in touch through the contact page.

"[Kali] is very knowledgeable, her teaching style is adaptable, and she is always calm, encouraging, and patient. I’ve really enjoyed the last five years of lessons with her. One of my favorite parts of the class was improv, which really let me loose, so to speak, on the musical playground. I was challenged to play in interesting ways which was both great for learning and great fun. Another fantastic aspect was the variety and flexibility of the types of pieces I learned. Beyond classical, jazz, and blues, I often sought out and presented different modern songs to play. It was tricky, but learning to play my favorite songs was also very rewarding."
Valentina Seward, private student during high school, 2012-2017

"[Kali] is a patient teacher with a good sense of humor and a penchant for choosing interesting songs for lessons. She is motivating and knowledgeable. I went from "took piano lessons when I was ten" musical skill to "performed on stages around the world in front of hundreds of people" level thanks to Huw's lessons."
Kristen McQuillen, ukulele student,

"I first started taking lessons to improve my knowledge of music theory and soloing, especially in the area of Jazz. [Kali]’s knowledge in these areas, as well as having an accommodating teaching style, really helped me to reach new levels of understanding, even beyond my initial goals.

From the beginning, [Kali] crafted a series of well-organized lessons, and has patiently given me plenty of time to ask questions to check my understanding. [Kali] has also made sure that there has always been a practical side to the lessons, a hands-on element in each class where I can practice what has been learned, in context. This has really allowed the music theory I’ve studied to leap off the page, encouraging me to use my ears and my creativity.

Speaking of the creative process, if there is one area that really makes Huw’s lessons stand out, it is the continued incorporation of improvisation into each class. [Kali] is an experienced instructor of improvisation across multiple genres, and from the very beginning, there has been “free improvisation” activities incorporated into the lessons. This has really helped me to break out of routine patterns that I have found myself stuck in, assisted me in solving problems in song writing, and has also helped me to focus my listening more carefully on both what I play; and in group situations, what others around me are doing.

Learning music can be a life-long endeavor that takes a great deal of personal commitment, but with the right teacher, who can motivate their students through their own sense of creativity and, most importantly, through their own passion for music, the path of learning becomes that much more rewarding. I would highly recommend [Kali]’s lessons to anyone wishing to expand their musical knowledge, in a welcoming, friendly atmosphere, that fosters creativity."

Robert Moreau, mandolinist and improvisation student

Kali teaches improv theatre three or four times a month for the Tokyo Comedy Store's In the Moment improv program. This includes 2-hour classes and 4-hour intensive workshops, ranging from ¥2,000 to ¥4,000. More Information is available at the TCS website here and through Meetup here.

In addition, Kali teaches workshops of original content, on themes of particular interest to her. These include:

Music for Humans / Fun with sound:

"As an improvising musician, I found a whole new way to relate to making music in the language of improv theatre. Now, I'm turning that around and showing actors and anyone else who's interested how to apply their creativity to making music.
If you've ever wished you could jam as part of a band, then this is the workshop for you. We'll be using percussion and our voices to explore how to work together and organise sound in fun and fascinating ways. Anyone who can already play instruments is encouraged to bring them along to discover a new level of sensitivity in their playing. Key musical concepts such as pitch and rhythm will be explored, and all of us will benefit from honing our artistic intuition in a different medium.
Experience with music is not at all a necessity, and neither is experience with improv acting. Just bring your body and an open heart."

Creative Vocal Sound Meditation

The Creative Vocal Sound Meditation is for people who love the sound of their own voice - or don’t! It provides a group context for participants to explore the expressive potential of their voice to whatever extent they’re comfortable, and unlock a joy and ease of being we’re so often taught to suppress.
Beginning with simple collective humming, free of any need to pitch our notes or sound beautiful, the workshop moves through different areas designed to gradually open us up internally, and appreciate the natural vibration of both body and air that vocalizing allows. With increasing freedom, participants are encouraged to explore voice and imagination more deeply, supported by others doing the same. Simple improvised games may be added depending on the energy of the group, to broaden and challenge our horizons.
Expect to leave a Creative Vocal Sound Meditation with a new appreciation for your voice and capacity to use it, along with a more grounded, inspired and flexible state of mind.

Improv Theatre as Spiritual Practice:

"It's no exaggeration to say that in improv theatre, as in all creativity, we are our own biggest obstacle. Unquestioned habits and predilections present blocks we may not even be aware of. Practicing exercises and techniques is helpful, but with a deliberate emphasis on personal growth and self-discovery, the process of struggling against one's own negative tendencies can be turned into an intentional and even enjoyable part of improving as an improvisor. This workshop is designed to provide a framework for self-analysis in creativity activities, using spirituality as both a metaphor for and source of perspective on learning more about oneself.We'll take a look at the efforts being made in the modern world to integrate traditonal spiritual and religious values into a more holistic approach to the human condition, and see how such insights can be used as a tool to analyse and improve our performance. We'll talk, do some fun and challenging exercises, and of course see what effect this way of looking at things has on scene work.No experience with spiritual practice of any kind is necessary, though might be helpful. A basic understanding of improv theatre is useful. No yoga pants allowed."

Upcoming public workshops are promoted on the events page, usually costing around ¥3,000. Private workshops tailored to the needs of specialist groups and corporate interests, particularly team building through improv theatre or collective music-making, are also available. Please be in touch through the contact page, prices vary depending on circumstances.

"[Kali]’s “Music for Humans” workshop is medicine for one's musical soul. The class is an experiential journey through various ways of communicating with sound and rhythm in the here-and-now, and is guaranteed to bring out your playful inner child. [Kali]’s workshop will inspire deep in-the-moment communication through use of musical games, and can benefit both non-musicians and musicians alike."
Ricky Sweum, professional saxophonist,
www.rickysweum.com

"[Kali]'s workshop is a lot of fun. It strips away preconceived ideas of what good music and rhythm are. I always feel that I am getting back in touch with my inner child, in a very primitive way. Hitting chairs with boom-whackers in the groove is very satisfying! It's allowed me to look at my own songwriting from a more organic viewpoint."
David Mashiko, actor & singer-songwriter,
www.wideeyedtc.com

"Experimental musician Robert Wyatt meets improv guru Keith Johnstone! Delightful tinkering with collective sound structures. Music as meaningful discovery, not prejudice. As a conceptually interested non-musician, fascinating."
"m fm", regular workshop attendee

Huw also creates workshops catering to specific needs and interests, whether they be those of a social group or corporate entity. Her approach is detailed in the following promotional video:

Since the autumn of 2017, Huw has begun pursuing qualification in the emerging therapy of Biofield Tuning. For more information on this fascinating treatment, please see here.