LEARNING RESOURCES
TITLE MUSIC
Compose Music for the intro of a film or TV show - Any Genre
EDM MUSIC
Compose Music for the the DJ students. Dance Music of any genre.
AMBIENT MUSIC
Compose chilled out music. for the new BBA Spa. - Can also be used for underscores for folm
HIP HOP
Compose the Music for a Hip Hop song and find an audio engineer to record the rap.
FOUND SOUNDS
Record sounds from the environment and turn them into a song
BUILDING YOUR EARS
BUILDING YOUR EARS
Neil Freebern
Hakalau
"To stare at as in meditation and to allow to spread out."
This awareness practice is part of my teaching because great musicians don’t just play notes — they learn to perceive the full musical environment around them. By widening attention and softening focus, students become more present, more connected, and more responsive to the ensemble. It helps them see the conductor more clearly, listen outward rather than inward, and fit their sound into the larger musical texture. This simple shift in awareness strengthens musicianship at every level and supports the kind of expressive, collaborative music‑making that brings performances to life.
The Five Stages of Expanded Awareness
Ho‘ohaka — Opening Awareness Ho‘ohaka begins with softening the gaze and widening attention. Choose a point on the wall slightly above eye level — high enough that your field of vision rises toward your eyebrows, but not so high that it cuts off your peripheral view. This gentle upward focus opens the doorway to expanded awareness.
Kūʻu — Letting Go As you rest your eyes on that point, allow the mind to loosen. Release effort. Let your attention settle naturally on the spot without strain or analysis.
Lau — Spreading Out Within moments, your vision begins to widen. You’ll notice more in your peripheral field than in the center. The visual field “spreads,” and awareness expands with it.
Hakalau — Attending to the Whole Shift your attention to the periphery itself. Let the edges of your vision become the primary focus, while the central point remains soft and unfixed. This is the heart of the practice — awareness that is broad, receptive, and fully present.
Hoʻokohi — Sustaining the State Remain in this expanded awareness for as long as you comfortably can. Notice how your body responds. Many people experience a sense of calm, clarity, or even subtle exhilaration as the nervous system settles into this open, panoramic state.
Stay in this state and notice what you can see, hear and feel.
This easy tool will help you train your brain to be present. It is easy, quick and highly effective.
The foveal system of the human eye is the only part of the retina that permits 100% visual acuity. The line of sight is a virtual line connecting the fovea with a fixation point in the outside world.
The foveal system is responsible for sharp central vision (also called foveal vision), which is necessary in humans for activities where visual detail is of primary importance, such as reading and driving.
