Richard is actively involved in teaching many aspects of Jewish music.

Listed below are some examples of his workshops,
offered in full day, 3-4 hour, weeklong, or weekly formats.


Workshop Participants' Comments:

"...very knowledgeable teacher...passionate about his music...a true talent with an
impressive ability to share knowledge...teacher's enthusiasm was infectious...he made
tunes that I thought were too difficult for me to sing - easy for me to sing...nice mix of
intellectual/historical context with singing...it is clear he loves the material."


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MIZRACHI AND SEPHARDI CHANT

This workshop presents the music of Middle Eastern and Spanish/Andalusian Jewish communities.

Musical textures, modes (maqamat), instruments, and the inter-relationship with surrounding musical cultures are all explored.

Mainly, though, these workshops are participatory, as we learn a Moroccan Lecha Dodi,
Adon Olam, and Eyn Keyloheynu, a Salonican Modeh Ani and Ve'Eyrastikh Li, an Afghani
Le'El Adir, and many more little known gems of Jewish Sacred Music from Turkey, Syria, Iraq,
Yemen, Central Asia, North Africa, and the Sephardim of Jerusalem.


THE MUSIC OF REB NACHMAN OF BRATSLAV

Reb Nachman of Bratslav, the great-grandson of Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism,
inherited a profound sense of the importance and efficacy of music in spiritual practice.

This workshop will introduce powerful music from the Breslover tradition. We will learn melodies
and nusach (chanting forms) by Rebbe Nachman himself, including his transcendental
contemplative niggun, as well as songs by his followers. We will explore his philosophy of sound - his musical mysticism - and attempt to infuse our singing with these perceptions of inner space.


NIGGUNOLOGY: EXPLORING A CONTEMPLATIVE JEWISH MUSICAL TRADITION

This workshop will honor an all-too-often unsung hero of Jewish spiritual practice - the Contemplative Niggun. Using melody and vocalized syllables only, these extended "musical meditations without words" are designed to take the individual through many gates of awareness and states of soul elevation. We will learn and davven (prayerfully sing) several masterpieces from this genre, composed by various Hassidic masters. This workshop is appropriate for all skill levels.


ZEMIROT: SONGS FOR THE QUEEN OF DAYS

The Jewish musical treasure-chest contains a wealth of zemirot (prayer-songs) for the Sabbath Day. Drawing upon Middle Eastern, European, and Spanish/Andalusian traditions, we will learn several exquisite zemirot for Friday Night, Shabbat Morning and Afternoon, Havdalah, and Melave Malka times. Especially featured will be an under-exposed Yedid Nefesh by the Baal Shem Tov.
All musical levels welcome.


PRIVATE AND LONG DISTANCE (Telephonic) CANTORIAL TRAINING

Cantor Kaplan is involved in teaching the Cantorial repertoire to students across the country.
A course of study is individually designed, and may be part of an ordination process through the ALEPH Cantorial Program.


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