MUS 211 Introduction to Afro-Caribbean Music and Dance

3 hours 

This hands-on course will focus on Afro-Caribbean music and dance traditions of such countries as Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Students will study rhythms, basic drum techniques, dance steps, drum patterns, improvisation, and song repertoire. Students will take turns accompanying each other on traditional instruments for each musical genre introduced and will learn the dynamic between drummers and dancers that is commonly found in many musical cultures of West Africa and the Caribbean.