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Education

Shakuhachi player Kojiro Umezaki looking at a musical score with a student

© MICHAEL METZGER

Creating a Life with Music
Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble conduct "Creating a Life with Music” workshops for advanced high-school music students. These workshops go beyond discussions of technique, incorporating performance and addressing ways for students to pursue careers in music in today’s global society.


Silk Road Ensemble member Bassam Saba demonstrates the oud to a young visitor at the Nara Museum in Japan.

Silk Road Ensemble member Bassam Saba demonstrating the oud to a young visitor
at the Nara Museum in Japan

© ISABELLE HUNTER

Education Overview

We have a passion for education, and our goal is to inspire self-motivated learning through the arts. Our educational principles guide our work with students, educators and partner institutions.

The Silk Road Project provides a gateway to greater understanding of the world through active educational programs and resources and multidisciplinary explorations of topics inspired by the Silk Road.

Current educational initiatives

  • Silk Road Connect, a multi-year, multidisciplinary educational program for middle school students, with partner schools in New York City and Boston
  • The Arts and Passion-Driven Learning, a weekend summer institute for educators and teaching artists from all disciplines

Other educational resources and programs

The Silk Road Project is affiliated with Harvard University, exploring connections between the arts and academics. The Silk Road Ensemble also conducts short-term residencies in museums and universities and workshops with music students.


“Passion-driven education liberates students and gives them the self-confidence to discover who they are as individuals and how they fit in the world.”
– YO-YO MA