As I mentioned Monday, the biggest reading assignment is the one for tomorrow (Tuesday). Here it is as in the syllabus:
- Discussion of the (mostly very short) articles from Arthur Hull’s website ( www.drumcircle.com). Note: you need to read and write a response to these on the class blog BEFORE Wednesday’s class!
- “Change the World” (Interview with Babatunde Olatunji) http://www.drumcircle.com/articles/baba.html
- “Arthurian Philosophy” http://www.drumcircle.com/articles/philosophy.html
- “Arthurian Philosophy” http://www.drumcircle.com/articles/philosophy.html
- “Drum Circle Etiquette” http://www.drumcircle.com/articles/etiquette.html
- Discussion of Babatunde Olatunji’s album Drums of Passion, which you can listen to online at http://audio.depauw.edu (login information is the same as Moodle)
(In the original syllabus, I misspelled "Moodle," so I corrected it here, and there, too.)
In class, I asked that you listen to at least three of the Drums of Passion tracks.
I strongly encourage you to print out the articles and put them in a notebook and bring them with you to class. It's great to interact with texts by circling and underlying ideas you find insightful, provocative, illuminating, or, as often happens, wrong-headed or irritating. You can write your own ideas and responses in the margins.
And, of course, taking old-fashioned notes is a good idea as well!
In addition to your own notes (which you should bring to class), write a "comment" here that:
- is at least two paragraphs long
- discusses at least three points from the four short articles
- and describes your response to listening to a minimum of three of the Drums of Passion tracks.
It never occurred to me that drumming could be a form of healing, or have the ability to promote community. I probably wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't participated in the first day of class when we were all lost in the rhythm and having a fun time together! I think it is really amazing how much Olatunji promoted his belief in drumming circles. He has obviously made a real impact and affected many people's lives in a positive way. I really liked some of the points made by Olatunji in his interview. "The only people we should get even with are those who have done us a good turn". I think that is something that everyone should try to incorporate in their lives because revenge only brings more negativity into the world. He also points out that we should try to preserve this culture and I completely agree. People from all over the world live in America and if we all become more multi-cultural, our communal identity will be stronger.
ReplyDeleteI think the Drums of Passion album is pretty awesome. The rhythms are exciting and it really made me want to get up and dance. Track number 5 was so repetitive though and I didn't really like the song. Track 2 had nice tempo changes and I really liked that. The multiple changes in rhythm were also really nice and smooth. Overall I think African percussion music is cool but I wouldn't listen to it in my spare time.
I think the idea "if we all become more multi-cultural, our communal identity will be stronger" is awesome. So many people (myself included sometimes) view themselves as part of one culture or ethnic group instead of focusing on what common identity we could all share. Choosing one culture isn't the only way to unify the country.
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ReplyDeleteI found the interview with Olatunji very interesting. The fact that he recognized that the distance between himself and the African Americans he met in the United States in the 1950s, between himself and most of the Americans he met, really, could be fixed through music is truly amazing. He sounds absolutely inspiring. On the other hand, the related Arthurian Philosophy feels a bit more contrived to me, but perhaps if it were a more eloquently written article I would understand the principle a bit better. Finally, I love the article on drumming etiquette because it thoroughly explains how to approach what could be an uncomfortable situation: drumming, an emotional expression, with complete strangers.
ReplyDeleteThe music from the "Drums of Passion" album feels very empowering to me. I especially love the vocal parts, except in "Odun de! Odun de!" where I find it a bit creepy. My favorite piece is probably "Shango" because it seems very passionate to me and makes me want to move, if you will. I think this music would be really good to listen to when studying, because it seems like it would not be particularly distracting, but would I am very excited to make powerful drumming music of our own in class!
Very true, Sydney! Olantuji's recognition of his identity and his pride in his identity is a message to all of us that we should appreciate our heritage. Olantuji teaches us that we can all learn from one another's backgrounds and that music brings us together.
DeleteIn the article Drum Circle Etiquette, Arthur Hull talks about proper drum etiquette as well as enjoying one's time in the circle. Hull also talks about not overpowering the group, keeping within the group's tempo. He also goes over some general rules about participating in a drum circle, such as: don't touch another persons drum, take off jewelry and watches and leave rhythmic space for others, don't solo all the time.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, these are just a few generic rules to follow. All of them are useful of course. Some of the advise Hull gave to beginning drummers was helpful as well. His advice was to play with an attitude of both "humility and support" (Hull). His other advice, which I thought was most helpful, was: "Be very observant of the actions and reactions of the more advanced drummers who are playing in the circle and you will learn a lot quickly" (Hull). This was the best advice I believe he gives. It's obvious, but very helpful.
This short article was about the way in which drum circles can better a person physically as well as psychologically. "Endrummingment," as Hull calls it, "is a state of being, an experience, an attitude, a process, and an empowerment." It is a way into another world, where time doesn't exist.
ReplyDeleteHull goes on, bringing up the idea of everyone being one in a drum circle. How once the beat is set, everyone can lose themselves within it, "vibrating" together. It is a really cool idea, and very true. Just from our first drum circle activity I can relate to everything that is said in this article. The group does blend together and we all somewhat lose ourselves within the beat and various rhythms.
Listening to the music, it was very easy to get lost in thought and in the rhythm. I found myself forced to move around. I liked the incorporation of voices into the drum line. It was really cool to listen to!
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ReplyDeleteI found it very amusing and so fascinating how playing the drums can release so much energy. I remember not feeling the best going into class on Monday, and after drumming and doing all of the activities, I felt so much better along with feeling closer to everyone else. I mean, we all are already somewhat close as a mentor group. This I feel will bring us even closer. I was amazed at the way Olatunji took what the Americans asked and said to him. The way that he showed them the African culture and the way the Americans responded was incredible. He was not afraid to show what he felt. I am kind of that way when I meet new people, eventually however, I step out of my comfort zone. I feel like this class will help express my mood and make me feel better about life in general. I also agree that this way of learning cultures should be taught all over the world.
ReplyDeleteListening to these tracks made me want to get up and dance. There was a lot of repetition, but in some ways, repetition is the only way to get a point or message across. This was very evident in tracks, 4,5 and 9. I really got a vibe and just wanted to get up and dance. I felt connected to the music in multiple ways. that feeling that I had in class on Monday I wish I could feel all of the time.
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DeleteI agree that there were multiple connections with the music and with the group as a whole. I don't think music has made me feel that connected and like a part of a whole that intensely before, but it was awesome!
DeleteI didn't go into Wednesday's class feeling the best either, but it definitely put me in a better mood and I didn't feel quite as groggy. I agree that drumming can energize you and make the day more positive. I guess in general that's what all music does!
DeleteOne of the most interesting points from all of the articles for me was that rhythm can heal. While I've always considered music to have an inexplicable healing and calming power, it never occurred to me that rhythm by itself has similar potential. When I was in the drum circle in class, I felt the unifying and powerful presence of the rhythm itself, which was an amazing experience. I also found it interesting that Olatunji thought hand drumming for people in the US wasn't a new thing, but rather was them "going back to their roots". Often as people living in the United States we get so caught up in the modern day world with technology and the pressure to do everything faster, better, etc. that we forget about the way life used to be. Learning about the re-emergence of hand drumming in US culture makes me wonder what else we're missing out on because of continual emphasis on progress and moving forward. Also, I absolutely loved the way Olatunji described what makes a good drum circle leader. He points out that there are good players who are bad facilitators and good facilitators who aren't fantastic drummers. For me, this expresses what music should be about. The real joy comes from sharing and bringing out the music in others. The realization that you don't have to be a perfect player to have a wonderful experience is so incredibly freeing. Sometimes, so much emphasis is put on striving for perfection that I forget I'm doing music because I love it. However, my experience with the drum circle in class and reading these articles helped me remember it's okay to relax for a bit and just "enjoy the music."
ReplyDeleteI had mixed feelings about the songs from Drums of Passion. The first one I listened to, Flirtation Dance, I really disliked. However, I really enjoyed a few of the others like Chant to the Train Man. The music was so different than any other types of music I have ever run across. One of the biggest differences I noticed was the prevalence of rhythmic percussion. This seems like an obvious observation, but it made me really start thinking. Most of the music I’ve been exposed to has been a series of different pitches that happen to have a rhythm within them. However, on this CD, the rhythm took center stage while the melodies and harmonies blended in around it, which was interesting. The music on the CD moved me in a different way than I’m used to being moved by music, and I’m honestly not sure whether I like it or not yet. When I can be a part of the drum circle, I love it. However, just listening to it makes me want to be a part of the music so badly that I’m not sure whether it’s a “good”, “bad,” or just “different” feeling and way to respond to music. For now, it’s too much of a “culture shock” still for me to make a definite opinion about whether I enjoy listening to it or not.
When reading Arthur Hull’s articles on the drum circles and listening to Babatunde Olatunji’s Drums of Passion, I was surprised that I hadn’t yet heard of this percussion movement. I haven’t been exposed to much African percussion so it was fun to be introduced to the style. I found it particularly interesting that Olatunji’s motives for bringing elements of African music to the U.S. were not only to educate people about African culture, but to more importantly promote togetherness.
ReplyDeleteArthur Hull feels that “Endrummingment is a state of being, an attitude, a process, and an empowerment,” and it brings people together with powerful rhythmic spiritual energy. Hull went on to say that “A drum circle creates a subsonic vibration that gives a rhythmical massage to everyone near it, affecting each person differently.” I found that Hull’s rhetoric showed the strength of his passion for drumming. Personally, I too feel a strong connection to music making; however I am not sure I’ve ever felt so passionately about a specific style. I do agree that the interaction music promotes is a powerful thing, and that Hull feels that drumming can help people share powerful musical interaction together.
I listened to Olatunji’s “Akiwowo,” “Kiyakiya,” and “Baba Jinde.” Of the three, my favorite was “Baba Jinde,” because of the female’s melodic introduction and the upbeat and feisty percussion that followed. All three of the songs were energetic, free spirited, and alive. I liked the style and am interested in finding out more about African percussion and drum circles.
I really loved how Olatunji brought up how drumming and instruments come from imitation originally. That we were trying to communicate about the world around us through imitation and that’s really what music is. Then there is the quote "A strange man in a strange land shouldn't sing a strange song" So if music is so elemental and brings us back to the "reality of the earth" and how it supports us, why would any song be strange to our ears? Wouldn't all music then be derived from the elements and imitation? One of his philosophies that really struck me was the one about how you should only get even with those who have done you good, the idea that sending out good energy brings good energy.
ReplyDeleteEmpowerment, the Arthurian Philosophy article talked about it, but so did Olatunji. He talked of how in the 60’s when people started to rediscover themselves that the idea of his really took hold. I’m relating these two articles because I think that during the 60’s many of the movements were really about self-exploration and empowerment as people and even though the Arthurian Philosophy actually talks about the empowerment of the spirit and how it can heal, Olatunji was doing just that. He was helping others come to the state where they could heal through rhythm and movement. It was a time of empowerment and healing in the 60’s.
In the drum circle on Monday it was really the energy of the circle that had the greatest effect on me. In the article about etiquette it also talks about energy, or sharing of spirit, and that communal feel is definitely something I felt in the drum circle on Monday.
In the audio tracks, the ones I found the most interesting were tracks 6, 7 and 9. In track 6 I could tell how African music had an effect on Jazz and later music. I could tell by the woman singing at the beginning of the song that African music very heavily influenced jazz. In track 7 the opening sound of the reeds pulled me in right away. It sounded so cool, kind of like rain, and immediately segues into drums and a singing call and response. But I just really loved the reeds in the beginning. In track 8 I loved the alternating rhythms at the beginning and how at first you think that is all that track is going to be about, and then the lone singer comes in followed by some really cool harmonizing with a group. The up-beat feel of this piece was really great.
I also felt the strongest energy when I focused on what was happening in the group as a whole. In eurythmics we mostly payed attention to our own body movements (unless we were about to crash with someone else) because there was a specific pattern that we had to follow. But in the drum circle we had more freedom to follow whatever energy we felt and work with others. I didn't say anything and I doubt anyone noticed but at one point I started a call-and-response with random people or I changed my pattern to fit into someone else's.
DeleteI also liked the point of sending positive energy into the world and getting positive energy back. Revenge and hate always lead to bad things, and I strongly believe that you should only put positive energy out into the world! Drumming enforces this idea by its' non-judgemental atmosphere and energy creating rhythms.
DeleteAs I read more about Olatunji's Drums of Passion and listened to excerpts of the album, my interest in this percussion movement grew. Out of all three articles, the one that I enjoyed reading the most was the interview. Right from the start of it I was captivated with the way that Olatunji spoke and worded things. As an African-American living in the US, the story in the beginning explaining why he became an ambassador for African culture, was very eye opening. It made me take a step back to view my life and the way in which I live it. Just as those people at Morehouse in his story, I never thought about my history and heritage when the true fact is that I am of African decent, just as all African-Americans in this country.
ReplyDeleteAbove all of that, I love the fact that the percussion movement is not just one to promote African culture to all, but it is also a movement to promote togetherness among everyone; to promote the good. This movement spreads love among all. My favorite part was when Olatunji says, "as the old Chinese proverb says, the only people that we should really get even with are those who have done us a good turn. So I don't let go of anybody who has done something good for me" (Olatunji). I think that is such a strong message to live by and it makes a lot of sense. I also really enjoyed reading about his explanation of the spirit of the drum. As he explained this subject, it immediately led me to think of the drum circle we had in class and I personally feel that is exactly what was happening within our circle. There was a huge positive energy in the room at that time which uplifted us all and led us to let go and have fun with each other.
I really enjoyed listening to the audio clips for the album. I love the energy that was involved in all of the pieces. As I listened to the songs, I wanted to get up and dance with the music. It sounded like they were having so much fun, which I love. I loved that the energy of that moment can be felt every time you listen to these songs. My favorite one in particular is "Baba Jinde." I absolutely loved the opening of it, I thought the voices were the beautiful and the musicians weren't worried about any outside observers or thoughts, they were just putting all of the positive energy out there in the environment for everyone to feel and feed off of.
To begin, I found a number of parallels between drum circle etiquette and simple rules of how to function properly in society. For example, when Hull states that one should "listen as much as they play," it reminds me of how we are often encouraged to lead as well as follow. In addition, Hull's rules about playing with the volume of the group or leaving rhythmical space for others resembles the concept that one should not be too self-centered and include or be considerate of others. These thoughts tie into Hull's statement in his article "Arthurian Philosophy" which reads, "life is rhythm and rhythm is life." By understanding basic principles in music and how to function in a band, we can relate what we know as musicians to how we should act as humans. Work with others, lead and follow at appropriate times etc. etc. All of these things can be found in music and society.
ReplyDeleteI really relate to Olatunji's comment in the interview where he said, "It's also okay for someone to perform and for people to clap their hands at the end, then leave. But to really be a part of it, to know that they can be a apart of it, is more." I have seen performances by Japanese drumming groups before and I've really enjoyed them. I've felt the vibrations and the energy of the drums, but on Monday, getting to "be" the performer was surreal. It most likely has something to do with, this time, being able to move around and exert the energy that I was feeling from the music instead of just standing and listening while the piece was performed. There is also a difference between just witnessing something and making it happen. I feel that true appreciation for anything comes from doing it yourself, even if you only do it once (if that makes any sense). For instance, one can hear and acknowledge the difficulty a piece of music and the talent of the musician playing, but personally picking up the instrument and learning what goes into a performance increases appreciation when listening to someone else play.
When listening to Drums of Passion, I was completely incapable of sitting still. I really enjoyed the powerful beats and picked up a few patterns that I would like to try in the next class. Also, the use of instruments other than drums, such as shakers, kept it interesting and added to the energy. The one song I did not like was "Odun de! Odun de!" I found the chant unsettling due to it's intensity. Plus, in the past, I have found that when listening to a song in a foreign language, I enjoy it more if I understand what the lyrics mean. Overall, I had a blast listening and moving with the energy of it, however it would not be something I would choose to spend an iTunes gift card on.
Like you, I felt like I needed to move when I heard the music, so I danced around my room like a fool. :)
DeleteNever did I imagine that drumming has such a profound effect on people. Olantujij's idea of drumming opened my eyes to the fact that the world is in need of a spiritual release, a release that is facilitated by the beating of a drum. Olantuji's explanation of his reason for introducing drumming to America is remarkable - "[...] I really wanted to identify myself with Africa, and say, 'Let me educate you about Africa.'" His story is passionate, and I hope that America further embraces the art of drumming. We know that we could use a stress reliever.
ReplyDeleteThese are very good comments, most of them showing a good deal of thought. You all are off to a good start with the blogging!
ReplyDeleteThe article "Drum Circle Etiquette" have really struck me as I was reading it. Although there are rules for being in the Drum Circle, mutual support and community experience are the two bigger emphasis, which is similar to how teams work, in general. Think about the last activity we did in class - we invited new members one at a time, with a completely new rhythm. I was the last one to join the Circle, overwhelmed by a whole of crazy rhythms. Yet, instead of stressed by all the rhythms, I could not wait to jump into these folks.
ReplyDeleteAnother line that intrigued me is "Rhythm has the power to heal. Everything that exist vibrates with its own rhythm." from the article of "Arthurian Philosophy". I never tried to "heal" myself with drum rhythms, but I could see how rhythms assist us to express our thoughts and emotions. When I was listening to the songs from the "Drums of Passion", I realized how my body began to resonate with the rhythms and dance. Two hours later, I felt my heartbeat switched to whichever rhythm I was attending to. This is something I wondered in the last few years, but I often thought that I had heart attacks (Being a pessimistic...). And last night, the way I responded to the music confirmed my thought that humans could vibrate with their rhythms.
In the interview between Babatunde Olatunji and Arthur Hull, Hull expressed that "young people were looking for and discovering a new way of living and recreating their culture". Indeed, in modern days, for some of the great classical performers, they were looking for new, innovative ways to bring brand new sensations to the audience. Isn't that something some of us are looking for? We learned from the past and infused with our "elements" - music, rhythms, lyrics, or even way we express our feelings.
I wonder - how drum circles influence us as young performers in other aspects? I just could not wait to see myself grow in the future.
That's so cool about your heartbeat switching to match rhythms. I could understand hwo that could be scary, but it's definitely just more proof that music can touch us in ways we can barely imagine! Earlier in class, we were talking about how the rhythmic patterns would eventually put us in a trance of sorts because the brain waves were leveling out. This made me wonder what would happen if a child was constantly exposed to a rhythmic pattern since birth and then introduced to silence.
DeleteThis was by far one of the most fun assignments I have had in a long time. The reading was extremely interesting and the listening examples were very fun to listen to. I really enjoyed how the readings went into the history of drum circles and how they started, I have always been interested in history so to be able read about something as unique as drumming or drum circles and find out the origins and history behind it was very fascinating. I also enjoyed learning about the science behind drum circles and how it related to evolution. We are creatures of imitation, from the time we are born when we hear or see something we have the desire to imitate it because of our natural instinct to survive. We know through instincts when we are born to imitate what we see because the things we are imitating are obviously alive and are doing something right. So to read about how the drum circles are a basic origin of human evolution was very intriguing to me.
ReplyDeleteThe other articles about drum etiquette were very helpful for this class. It’s nice to know that there are actually (unwritten) common rules about how to participate in a drum circle. A few of the things that were said I never really considered but when I read them completely agreed with them. The rule about leaving space for the other drummers to drum as well is a perfect example of that. I never really thought about that and how annoying it would be to be the person who would have to deal with a person who has completely filled up the allotted time space. While I completely agree with this rule, I had just never thought of it as being a very important thing until now.
The article about philosophy, I thought, tied into the article with Olatunji and Hull very well. Olatunji talked a lot about the feelings you get when you drum or are a part of a drum circle and this article just expanded on the things that he was talking about. “Rhythm has the power to heal. Everything that exists vibrates with its own rhythm” was one of my favorite sentences in this article. I strongly believe that music (or rhythm) does have the power to heal. Not just or minds but out bodies as well. Many studies have been done connecting music and healing, and all have shown that music does in fact have some sort of “power” in it that heals people. I have however, never known why music has this power, so it was interesting to read the hypothesis that the vibrations in music have an effect in the cells in out body which in turn, heals us.
I ended up listening to all the musical examples. I started out not exactly knowing what to expect but once I started listening to example after example I heard so many distinct differences between them that I just had to keep listening to more. I also found that it was very good concentration music, probably of the repetition in the drumbeats. While the music was fast paced and exciting there was something calming about it, I didn’t feel antsy when listening to the music. I felt calm and relaxed and found myself listening to the underlying beats more than anything. All in all, I actually very much enjoyed listening to all the examples and will continue listening to more as time goes on.
Okay.... well while I was writing it deleted everything I said because I was trying to click on an article!!!!! Typical Kate move..
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school, I was in this group called Vocal Jazz Workshop. One of the main reasons I loved it so much had to do with the fact that in the beginning of class everyday we would start off doing a "circle song" as we would call it. Which consisted of our teacher starting off in a simple tune and everyone would add on as we went around in the circle. Very similar to what we did in class on Monday. The reason why I loved this class so much is because it got me out of my comfort zone and helped me feel the music.
In the article with Olatunji, he talked about the importance of community how he felt such passion with his culture to spread it around the world. I feel like this idea is very smart and also will help us as performers. One of the lines that stood out to me was when he was talking about how "The spirit of the drum is something that you feel but cannot put your hands on it. You feel when people come together to play." I feel like this line is very important when it comes to being a musician in general. The feeling of the "spirit of the drum" should be felt within any musician when they play pieces and how they perform. You can tell when the person performing truly "feels" the music they are playing/singing and this aspect, although difficult to grasp, is especially important. Not only should the musician feel it but the audience should feel it when they perform it.
Going off of that idea, when I was listening to the music from "Drums of Passion", I felt like not only did they feel the beat and/or rhythm but I felt it as well. These pieces all were so interesting and made me want to get up off my feet and dance! (Unfortunately at the point at which I was going to get up and move a little.. my roommate walked in..awkward... don't worry she didn't see me.) However, it is that feeling the movement in my soul that showed me how their playing did this to me. As I enter this course, I hope that in the end I can perform with so much emotion that the room fills up and people have that feeling in them.
Lastly, I want to talk about the article "Artutian Philosophy". In this article they discussed the importance of community and how rhythm heals people. I believe that the spirit that comes from the rhythm is what heals the peoples souls. This article was so deep. It was amazing how music can bring so many people together and become united as one. If you think about it, the National Anthem has this affect. When a group of people sing this song, you can feel the dedication and emotion within the tune. It brings our nation together because everyone experiences this and shows their patriotism. I especially liked the example of the church though that the author used. It was so interesting to me how many churches use spirit and rhythm to bring everyone together and together in a sense heal each other.
Overall, I enjoyed learning about the drumming community and the importance of togetherness. It reminded me of being on a team and working together and building off of each other. I remember when I was little, my Dad would tell me things about the artists of the songs he enjoyed. He is a huge fan of the Police, as am I, and whenever the song "Message in a Bottle" came on the radio he would tell me about the drummer. Before this song was written or any of the songs on the album for that matter, he was in Africa and learned about different patterns and beats and used it in this song. It's so interesting how the culture affects our modern world today. After reading about these, I decided that I want to learn about another culture and it's musical background. Maybe one day I'll write a song and become famous ;).
I was also in Vocal Jazz Choir and we would scat in a circle at the beginning of class too! It was kind of scary at first, but once everyone was comfortable with each other, it was a lot of fun. It made our choir closer and brought us together as a group. I agree that it is very similar to what we have been doing on the drums, just a different instrument. I never realized that before I read your post! This class is also inspiring me to learn about other culture's music, not just African. I think it's so interesting.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great experience, Julie. Jazz has always been of interest to me, but I never felt like my voice was suited for that genre. However, after experiencing improvisation, I feel that just as anyone can participate in a drum circiel, anyone can sing a different genre of music. It all depends on one's willingness to try.
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