Pierce College’s music department had its first Associated Student Organization (ASO) concert of the new school year on Sept. 2 in the Performing Arts Building, leaving the audience with knowledge about drumming from different parts of the world.
ASO Concert Director Kevin Good kicked off the fall concert season displaying various styles of drumming and incorporating rhythmic patterns from different parts of the world. Good focused on global rhythms by performing Dagomba drumming from Northern Ghana, Ewe drumming from the Volta Region of Ghana and Ritmica created by Jose Eduardo Gramani.
“I started as a drum set player, but I’ve always felt a deep connection to rhythm, not just as a musical element but as part of culture,” Good said.
He displayed this love for rhythm through complex bell patterns which is a key feature in Ghanaian Ewe and Dagomba drumming. Good explained these patterns are the backbone of many African rhythms and can provide a foundation for other elements of music.
After a brief introduction and showcase of different rhythmic patterns, Good performed his composition titled Kane, which he said refers to the Hawaiian god who represents creation, light and life. As a composer, Good created this piece as a way to allow others to find their rhythmic love and understand rhythmic cycles with their specific instrument.
Good explained how he borrowed different styles in his pieces after traveling to Ghana and learning Ghanaian style of music.
“Understanding rhythm deeply will allow you to explore various styles, whether it’s classical, jazz, or global drumming traditions like Dagomba or Ewe drumming,” Good said.
Brian Wulf, a Pierce College student who attended the concert was intrigued by the different rhythmic patterns presented. Wulf was interested mostly in how the fluidity of the drumming is different from what people are used to in their day-to-day lives.
“Our way of timing and our way of thinking about timing and how it’s different from other places in the world,” Wulf said.
Wendy Mazon, the department chair of music, said she really enjoyed learning more about African drumming and music.
“African rhythms and traditions have been borrowed in different parts of Western music by other composers,” Mazon said.
