Damascus Kafumbe
Prof Kafumbe is so fun to have as an instructor. The class was fun, a lot of physical activity: we were never sitting still. There is a lot of peer review, as that is just the nature of African music culture, but it was still nerve wracking to have others give criticisms on your performance. Felt like such a great community was created in this class. It's a fun break from more work-heavy classes, as most of the workload is just learning and practicing the songs in class. I'm going to miss this class đź’”
Prof Kafumbe is so fun to have as an instructor. The class was fun, a lot of physical activity: we were never sitting still. There is a lot of peer review, as that is just the nature of African music culture, but it was still nerve wracking to have others give criticisms on your performance. Felt like such a great community was creat …Read more
This course seemed interesting at first, an intro to ethnomusicology that involves a case study on one song... chose your song wisely, you will develope a deeper understanding of your song by analyzing that song through 8 different ethnomusicological frameworks. You will be practically writing the same essay every single week, I cannot stress enough how you must really, really, really enjoy the song you are choosing, and make sure the song is incredibly culturally rich or else writing essay after essay after essay will become increasingly difficult. In class Kafumbe lectures you about the reading you have just read the for the week before. Its nice that theres only one or two readings per week, but they must be completed before your first class for the week alongside a written response "QQQ" as he calls them. You can usually BS the QQQ by skimming and choosing random quotes, but you usually have to read the whole reading to answer the weekly essay efficiently/cohesively.
This course seemed interesting at first, an intro to ethnomusicology that involves a case study on one song... chose your song wisely, you will develope a deeper understanding of your song by analyzing that song through 8 different ethnomusicological frameworks. You will be practically writing the same essay every single week, I cann …Read more
This should NOT be a 100-level class!! Do not take this to fill your art requirement!! I took this because I love history and needed my art credit and it was so bad that 3/4 of the class dropped it. Every assignment can only be described as unreasonable: every week we had to write a 2-page essay (due on Friday!!) that talked about 100 pages of reading, 2+ musical pieces, and examined questions of power. It was literally impossible to do that much in 2 pages and they were not easy graders! I consider myself a strong writer and I've never gotten above a 90 on an assignment. There would be weeks where multiple papers were due and it felt unreasonable for a 100 level class. The lectures are boring and feel directionless- the two professors have clearly never taught a class with someone else. They try to make the class discussion based but ask such niche, loaded questions that everyone is too scared to speak up. In its current form, no one should take this class!
This should NOT be a 100-level class!! Do not take this to fill your art requirement!! I took this because I love history and needed my art credit and it was so bad that 3/4 of the class dropped it. Every assignment can only be described as unreasonable: every week we had to write a 2-page essay (due on Friday!!) that talked about 10 …Read more