Students in MUSL 171 will concentrate on a wide range of ways that Africans use music to add meaning to their lives, while also focusing on musical instruments and other aspects of material culture associated with African musical performances. In-class drumming, singing, and dancing will provide opportunities to experience how traditional music and dance practiced by the majority of Africa's population continues to be cultivated and maintained. In addition to examples of traditional African music, students will be exposed to Arab, Asian, Islamic influences, legacies of Euro-American colonialism, and syncretic popular traditions developed in contemporary contexts. MUSL 171 will provide students with an overview of the extraordinarily rich musics and cultures of sub-Saharan Africa.
"This class was my favorite class in four years at Vanderbilt. Not only have I learned an amazing amount about African music, but I have been inspired to think and learn in ways that no other teacher has accomplished."
--former student, on a course evaluation form
Credit?
Arts and Science--CPLE international component, option 3 (Africa)
Engineering--social science
Peabody--humanities or social science, depending on major