New NORC/University of Chicago Report Focuses on Role of Teaching Artists in Education

Posted on September 25, 2011 by jcohen

This past week, the National Opinion Research Council (NORC) at the University of Chicago published a 3-year study titled “Teaching Artists and the Future of Education.” Being a teaching artist (TA) myself, I was interviewed for the study here in Cambridge by a NORC field researcher. And although I am obviously a fierce advocate for arts in education, I was quoted in a section of the report titled “Some Skeptics.” Take a look: Continue reading →

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Arranging African Drumming for Performance

Posted on July 8, 2011 by jcohen

The following is adapted from “Developing an African Drumming Program for Your Music Classroom,” created by ThisWorldMusic in partnership with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

This is the third in a series of three installments on arranging for an African drumming ensemble: 1) Arranging for Classroom vs. Stage; 2) Arranging Drumming with Singing and; 3) Arranging for Performance.

3. Arranging for Performance
Although it can require intensive preparation to play even the basic ostinato parts in many polyphonic, polyrhythmic styles of drum ensemble music, holding a Western audience’s attention with highly repetitive music, no matter how beautiful or complex, frequently presents a challenge. Continue reading →

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Arranging African Drumming and Singing

Posted on June 27, 2011 by jcohen

Students on the ThisWorldMusic/UMass Ghana study abroad program learning traditional Ewe songs.

The following is adapted from “Developing an African Drumming Program for Your Music Classroom,” created by ThisWorldMusic in partnership with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

This is the second in a series of three installments on arranging for an African drumming ensemble: 1) Arranging for Classroom vs. Stage; 2) Arranging Drumming with Singing and; 3) Arranging for Performance.

2. Arranging Drumming with Singing
One of the biggest challenges in arranging drumming with singing is the tendency for the drum ensemble to drown out the singers, especially the lead, or “call,” which is typically sung by an individual or small subgroup. Continue reading →

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Arranging African Drumming for Classroom and Stage

Posted on June 9, 2011 by jcohen

Students performing at The University School of Milwaukee rely on section mates for mutual support.

The following is adapted from “Developing an African Drumming Program for Your Music Classroom,” created by ThisWorldMusic in partnership with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

This is the first in a series of three installments on arranging for an African drumming ensemble: 1) Arranging for Classroom vs. Stage; 2) Arranging Drumming with Singing and; 3) Arranging for Performance.

1. Arranging for Classroom vs. Stage
For teaching polyphonic drum ensemble music in a classroom setting, a “mixed chorus” type of instrument distribution scheme is ideal. Continue reading →

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ThisWorldMusic News: Live Performance Video, Summer Masters Courses, VSA Int’l Conference, Concert Review

Posted on April 16, 2011 by jcohen

Happy spring! Our April newsletter went out this past Thursday and includes the following:

Performing the Ewe war piece Atsiagbekor at The Williston Northampton School

  • a new video of Atsiagbekor, which I performed with Ghanaian master dancer Nani Agbeli at The Williston Northampton School;
  • the announcement of two summer masters courses (LEV 1 & 2) at Central Connecticut State University;
  • info on the 2011 International Very Special Arts (VSA) Education Conference titled, The Contours of Inclusive Arts Teaching & Learning;
  • a concert review of the Wayne Shorter Quartet at the Berklee Performance Center.

To make sure you receive email updates from us in the future, including news and updates on drumming workshops, performances, and study abroad courses in Africa, subscribe at the top right of this page.

Too much commitment? You can check out the April newsletter here, or ogle other recent issues:

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There’s a Party Over Here: Ghanaian Funerals in the U.S.

Posted on April 12, 2011 by jcohen

Fun article in the NY Times today about Ghanaian ex-pats in New York City carrying on the tradition of boisterous funerals from back home in Ghana. Interestingly, it notes:

The funerals have become such money makers that the pretexts for them are sometimes a bit thin … A New Yorker, for example, might hold a party for a cousin’s niece’s husband who died in Ghana, even if the two had never met and few of the proceeds are intended for the family back home.

Makes one wonder if the business model is traditional as well! While we’re on the subject, here’s an oldie but goodie from 2009 of ThisWorldMusic/UMass in Ghana student Mike Thacker cutting a rug with some friendly locals at a village funeral…and the crowd goes wild!

 

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African Drumming Workshop at MMEA All-State Conference Tomorrow

Posted on March 24, 2011 by jcohen

Just a last minute reminder that I’ll be presenting tomorrow, Friday March 25, at the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) 2011 All-State Conference. If you’re at the Seaport Hotel/World Trade Center in Boston and get the sudden urge to hit things with sticks (okay, there’s a little more to it than that), swing by the Cambridge Complex room at 3:50. The session title is “Developing an African Drumming Program for Your Classroom” and we’re expecting a packed house.

Big thanks to Rhoda Bernard of Boston Conservatory and the rest of the folks at the Urban Music Education Coalition for including me in their amazing strand of offerings.

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Concert Review: Wayne Shorter Quartet at Berklee Performance Center

Posted on March 16, 2011 by jcohen

Wayne Shorter at Berklee Performance Center

Although I count Wayne Shorter among my all-time musical heroes, I admit I haven’t kept current with his recent output—and by “recent” I mean pretty much anything post-Weather Report.  Which is why when I arrived at Berklee Performance Center on a frigid Boston night last month, I honestly didn’t know what to expect, aside from a month of subsisting on top ramen after being TicketMastered to the tune of $60.

Being unburdened by expectations turned out to be a good thing. The set they played was not really a set at all, but rather, as John Garelick noted in his review in The Boston Phoenix, a “concert-long group improvisation.” And while it was breathtakingly beautiful at many points (and incredibly skillful throughout), I felt like Continue reading →

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Drum, Dance & Sing at Boston Symphony Hall: Saturday March 19th

Posted on March 6, 2011 by jcohen

Jeremy Cohen and Nani Agbeli present a workshop at Boston Symphony Hall.

Less than two weeks until the annual Boston Symphony Orchestra workshop with Nani Agbeli: “African Drumming: Technique, Pedagogy, and Program Implementation in the School Setting.” Read the program description from BSO website:

“Join internationally acclaimed Ghanaian master dancer Nani Kwashi Agbeli and pioneering composer, educator and Kennedy Center Teaching Artist Jeremy Cohen for a fun, innovative, and practical all-day workshop on classroom techniques to teach African drumming, dancing and singing.

“Topics include traditional songs from Ghana, connections between drumming, dancing and singing, and alignment with core curriculum. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to learn about West African drum-and-dance music from Mr. Agbeli, a renowned native practitioner, and Mr. Cohen, a top-flight educator with proven success at implementing these indigenous traditions in the American classroom setting. Sign up today!”

To enroll, or for more info: http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/toc_01_gen_images.jsp?id=bcat5220083

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