About
As an instructor of traditional Ghanaian music, dance, history, and arts, I feel incredibly joyful and grateful. Sharing Ghana's vibrant and dynamic cultural elements with my students and the people around me is a powerful and enriching experience. Witnessing the pure happiness and excitement that this tradition brings to my people is truly magical. As I continue to teach and educate others about Ghana's rich and diverse cultural heritage, I hope that more people will come to appreciate and celebrate their own culture through this incredible tradition with me.
Class Purpose and Learning Goals:
Embark on a fascinating journey to explore the rich cultural heritage of Ghana and immerse yourself in its vibrant music, dance, and song art. This experience will allow you to feel the heart-pumping rhythm and energy of the traditional dance-drumming culture of West Africa while developing your skills in precision, grace, and elegance. This journey of self-discovery and cultural appreciation will challenge you to express your emotions and movements with creativity and artistry. Through the harmonious interplay between drumming, dancing, and singing, you'll develop your ability to respond instantly and confidently to the instruments. So, explore the enchanting world of Ghanaian music and dance to discover the beauty and richness of African culture.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the relationship between traditional Ghanaian West African dance-drumming.
- Understand the instruments’ roles, how to play them, and what rhythms they each contribute to the music.
- Understanding how each instrument complements and intertwines with each other.
- Being able to take directions from the lead instruments when you’re supposed to.
- Knowing how to work together as a team instead of by yourself.
- Explore Ghanaian songs' musical qualities: their rhythms, structures, intonation, and harmonies.
- Understand the dance movements and choreography, how they fit tightly with the music, and how musical calls from the lead drum direct them.
- Be able to independently identify, feel, and express the key polyrhythms in the music through the body while dancing.
- Learn the meaning of the songs and what values, messages, and cultural reinforcement they transmit.
- Understand the intended overall polyrhythmic sound of the ensemble and develop the musicality to contribute to that overall desired effect.
- Perform fundamental body movements and choreography independently, with precision and artistry, in perfect time while taking musical instruction from the lead drum.
- Discuss how songs are embedded in Ghanaian culture, how they are created, and how they influence culture.
- Understand the music’s structure and traditional role in Ghanaian society.
- Consider how this art form, and the skills involved in composing and performing it, can support the your work as an artist (composing, internalizing and expressing rhythm, multitasking while performing, improvisation, and social relevance).
Highlights
Payment methods
Specialties
Able to read music
Musical styles
Years experience
Types of drums
Lesson length
Student's age
Student have drums
Photos and videos
Reviews
Tyler N.
Dane M.
Paola E.
Spencer B.
Matt W.
Dennis L.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
1. Talking to talking to them before our first class to understand who they are, what they want, why, the purpose of learning with me, and their goal.
2. Making sure everything is broken down really well to help them understand and know how to remember what we're working on.
3. Teaching them in a way that they relate to helps increase speedy learning and retaining of materials.
4. Giving them work to do on their own to keep them engaged.
5. Having them give a presentation to see their progress and understand what they've been learning from me.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I've been trained for over 20 years by over 9 different teachers in all aspects of the tradition.
I've been an apprentice with about 4 different teachers.
I have taught at over 15 different K-12 schools, or 15 high schools, and over 20 colleges and universities.
I have been the head of the African traditional music, dance, and history department of a couple of universities.
I have held many workshops, seminars, residencies for both students, music teachers, and proffesors.
I have been teaching online classes for many years now.