African Ensemble
The African Ensemble is a group dedicated to the study and performance of the music and drumming of Africa using authentic instruments. The course objectives are:
- To provide for a learning environment in which to broaden the student's general, technical, historical and practical knowledge of music of other traditions and societies;
- To enrich the cultural aspects and appreciation of the students involved, as well as the university and community, and;
- To further develop professional educators and performers who have a diversified background, so that they will be better prepared for whatever opportunities arise in the field of professional music, music education or music therapy.
Past semesters have included the study of the music, drumming and traditions of the Ewe people of southeastern Ghana, dalari drumming from the Dagara people of northern Ghana and the study of the embaire, a large xylophone from Uganda.
The EMU African Ensemble was first established in 2001 and is currently offered in Winter semesters only as a Special Topics course. It is open to all EMU students, though an audition may be required, but only if enrollment exceeds capacity (12).
