2 February 2017
Launched in 2014, LASALLE’S MA in Arts Pedagogy and Practice was the first of its kind in the region to foster discussion and research regarding the intersection of artistic and educational practices from the practitioner point of view. The pioneer cohort comprised teacher/artists with backgrounds in visual and performing arts as well as design and curatorial practice.
Kamini Ramachandran is a Professional Storyteller, Co-founder of MoonShadow Stories and a MA Arts Pedagogy and Practice alumna. She grew up in Malaysia, studied in the UK and has been a resident of Singapore for sixteen years.
What made you choose LASALLE over other graduate schools?
I’m a supporter of most things local and I had been looking for a suitable place to further my education. I also have teenage sons currently in higher education and I run a very busy storytelling organisation. Hence, I knew I had to be based on homeground in order to juggle everything and keep all balls in the air! When I heard that the MA Arts Pedagogy and Practice Programme would commence in June 2014, it was exactly what I had been wanting to do and it happened at the right time, right place.
How did the environment at LASALLE support your learning?
The Ngee Ann Kongsi Library and the exceptional librarians really made a difference in assisting me in sourcing for obscure and hard to access resources for my research. As an adult learner with a very busy schedule in the local arts scene, it also helped to be centrally located within proximity to the arts district and major arts venues.
What can one expect from the MA Arts Pedagogy and Practice Programme at LASALLE?
It is an opportunity to find the connections between how we teach as artists and how we create as educators.
What is one of the major highlights of the Programme?
The Interdisciplinary Project for sure! It takes place towards the end of the first semester and involves collaborative work with people from different disciplines in the cohort. We worked together on a project to create something new and we learnt so much from each other through sharing and observation. This collective process of art-making truly demonstrated the principles of teaching and learning, through experiential work. I enjoyed the final presentation of our work at a special showcase event.
Has your time with LASALLE given you a specific edge or advantage in your current area of work?
The MA Arts Pedagogy and Practice Programme is the only one of its kind in the region. It supersedes other diplomas and specialist courses catered towards arts educators.
With stricter regulations by ministries and more stringent credential requirements by organisations, the MA Arts Pedagogy and Practice qualification is a valuable asset for any artist educator.
The global faculty of experts who taught us welcomed us as part of a wider network of experts in the field. Together with our cohort, alumni and faculty, the MA Arts Pedagogy and Practice Programme community of practice is a hub of knowledge and support we can rely on.
Share with us a memorable experience in your time at LASALLE
While I was studying for my Postgraduate Degree, I was also teaching at LASALLE – I was both a learner and a teacher. It was humbling and thrilling to be part of the student body again after more than two decades! As Student Representative, I sat in many meetings with the rest of the College. After reading through my students’ assignments, I would then proceed onto my own reading list. And when I graduated as the pioneer cohort, my own students shared the stage with me! How memorable is that!
How did you overcome the challenges you faced while pursuing your Postgraduate Studies at LASALLE?
From the onset, I knew that my storytelling performance schedule would be testing. I made it a point to speak with my Programme Leader, Dr Kie Watkins and discussed my artistic commitments including international festival engagements. I managed my time as efficiently as possible, to juggle the various aspects of work, home and studies. As a cohort, we were close knit and helped to take notes and collate information for one another.
Any advice for those who are considering to enrol into the MA Arts Pedagogy and Practice Programme?
Be open-minded to collaborating and learning from other artists from different practices in your cohort. You never know where these new connections will lead to! Don’t worry too much about all the things you think you cannot do, focus on the things you know you can do, and ask for help. Do make use of the library, studios and faculty to assist you with research, questions and space to think.
