Feel the Energy and Excitement!
Posted by David Coe
African drumming instructor Kwame Henry Jones has joined our 6th, 7th and 8th grade Upper School Performing Arts faculty this year. Henry has been teaching percussion students about the traditions and culture of West African countries, as well as the instruments and rhythms associated with each region.There is an emphasis on cooperation and individual responsibility in each lesson. In that way students are able to perform music on their own by following the cues of the 8th grade “elders”. Their self-directed debut performance of “Funga Alafia” in Winterfest received an enthusiastic response from the audience! “Funga Alafia” is a welcome song from Nigeria and the class has been learning “Mendiani”, a mask dance from the tradition of Guinea, West Africa. The energy and excitement from the students as they play their instruments is remarkable!
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