One of four specializations within the MFA World Music Performance program, African Music and Dance offers a course of intensive study of polyrhythmic music and dance from the Ghanaian region of Africa. Visiting artists cover the repertoire from many African cultures.
Rooted in graduate major lessons and extensive performance opportunities, the specialization provides students with the abilities and means to become accomplished performers, and features classes in theory, transcription, and analysis. Students are inspired to weave African music and sensibilities into all their musical endeavors.
The curriculum provides a challenging forum for graduate students to develop skills such as drumming, singing, and dancing in traditional music and dance from Ghana, while also learning and synthesizing the diverse skills required of a Western classical musician.
Students hone their skills in extended techniques, improvisation, and interpretation through a number of specialized courses aimed at developing observation and imitation—including the ability to learn new drum calls and to respond accurately to changes that a lead drummer may initiate—and the ability to grasp Ghanaian music theory through a repertoire of syllables, all placed within a sociocultural context.
All African Music and Dance MFA candidates are required to pass a mid-residence recital and a graduation jury and recital in order to obtain the degree.