Beginning West African Drumming with Charles Amewudah

This class will meet at the Waldorf School of Louisville -  3110 Rock Creek Dr, Louisville, KY 40207.

This class is designed to teach you the fundamentals of traditional West African drumming, with an emphasis on understanding the various parts, rhythms, and songs of Atrikpui and Atisa. Atrikpui and Atsia are easy to learn and require no previous drumming skills.

Drumming and dancing in Africa reveal a great deal beyond mere entertainment. Drumming and Dancing (Ceremonial) tell a story, convey emotion, recount history, celebrate rites of passage, and help unify the community.

Drumming and Dancing in African, specifically West African, is generally characterized by the people and the gender of the drummers and dancers. Drumming was originally reserved for men, while women dominated dancing. Some dances are gender-specific, but many others are gender-neutral. In general, men used large body movements, including jumping and leaping. At the same time, women danced with smaller movements, often using shuffle steps, their bodies bent in a crooked position, with their knees bent. African dancing can be seen in various forms, including circle dances, sometimes accompanied by musicians in the center, or solo dancers, and occasionally couples. Ecstatic seizure is a crucial element of African ceremonial dancing, used for both religious and secular purposes. Today in Africa, drumming is open to women, although men still dominate the practice. 

Atrikpui and Atsia

You will learn the history behind Atrikpui and Atsia music. You will gain practical knowledge of Atrikpui and Atsia drumming, as well as theoretical knowledge of the dance steps. These rhythms are performed in Ghana, Togo, and Benin, all of which are located in West Africa.  

You will:

• Make a connection with the Ewe history to the Atrikpui and Atsia dance movements.
  
• Sing the lyrics of at least one song each with the melody of Atrikpui and Atsia.
  
• Gain experience in how to execute Atrikpui and Atsia drumming rhythms.
  
• Know the names of the Ewe drums that are used for Atrikpui and Atsia.
  
• Recognize and differentiate between the rhythms of Atrikpui and Atsia.
  
• Participate in a West African drumming class with confidence.
  

This class is for:

• Anyone interested in learning West African drumming.
• Anyone who wants to immerse themselves in Ghanaian culture and drumming.
• All drummers and drumming enthusiasts.
• Musicians who want to hone their sense of rhythm and time

This class is a fantastic way to be a part of the drumming community, have fun, and burn calories while making music!

This is an adult class open to students aged 13 and up.