Fall Semester
 Afro Cuban Folkloric Ensemble
[Hand Drumming, MUS-Z 162, 2 credits].
Meeting times: Mondays, 9-10:30 pm and Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 pm in M005.
This is an ensemble course that will focus on Afro-Cuban folkloric percussion and vocals. No experience is necessary, and all students are welcome as long as they participate to their fullest ability, but percussion majors will be given priority for the percussion parts.
The class will focus on the following genres of Afro-Cuban music:
- Yoruba music, including: Bata, Bembe, Guiro and Iyesa
- Bantu music, including: Palo, Makuta and Yuka
- Arara music, including: Ebioso and Asohano
- Rumba music, including: Yambu and Guaguanco
- Carnival music, including: Conga de Comparsa
Class Goals:
- To develop a basic understanding of the techniques of Afro-Cuban folkloric percussion and song style.
- To increase awareness of Afro-Cuban culture, of which music will be only one part. We will learn about the history, languages, theologies and cultural retentions of the African diaspora in Cuba, of which the music is only one part.
- To establish a connection between percussion, song, and dance and their cultural context.
Spring Semester
 IU Brazilian Ensemble
[Undergraduates: MUS-F 450, Chamber Music, Section #28106, Wednesdays, 5:30 pm-7:45pm in MA 401, 1 credit]
[Graduates: MUS-F 550, Chamber Music, Section #28107, Wednesdays, 5:30 pm-7:45pm in MA 401, 1 credit]
This class will focus on the music of the large percussion ensembles of Brazil. Although there is an enormous variety of styles from which to draw inspiration, we will spend most of our time on the Samba Batucada from Rio de Janeiro, and when/if time permits, incorporate the Maracatu from Recife and some Candomble and Axe music from Bahia into the repetoire.
Except for the "timbao" played in Axe music, almost all the instruments used will be played with sticks or mallets, so hand drumming experience is not required for this class. The music does not really depend on chops as much as finding the right feel, so we will spend a lot of time time trying to get the bateria to swing properly.
 IU Steel Pan Ensemble
[Steel Drumming, MUS-Z 161, Mondays, 9-10:30 pm and Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 pm in M005, 2 credits]
Brian Mueller, Associate Instructor
Jesse Willis, Graduate Assistant
Students participating in the IU Steel Pan Ensemble will explore composition written for the steel ensemble medium, performing on steel pans and other percussion instruments. Various repertoire will be performed.
During the course of the semester, members of the IU Steel Pan Ensemble will:
- Develop a better sense of musical artistry
- Demonstrate and improve technical facility
- Build and enhance collaborative competence
- Improve and/or develop ensemble precision and listening skills
- Recognize, develop and synthesize knowledge of various styles and repertoire
- Identify and analyze different influences of repertoire on other forms of music, society, and cultures
- Demonstrate an appreciate of the varied elements in music
- Identify and value the necessity of music in society
2009-2010 Concerts for the 2009-2010 school year will be announced soon!
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