Music Dept Hosts Smithsonian Folkways World Music Course

EWU’s Music Department held its first annual Smithsonian Folkways World Music Pedagogy course on the Cheney campus last summer. Music educators from Washington and New York states explored a wide variety of world culture musics, including Hawaiian, steel drums, Klezmer, Mandingue percussion, Zimbabwe percussion, world dance, Salish drum and song, and Appalachian folk music taught by traditional artist-musicians, culture bearers, and experienced teachers of the greater Spokane region.

For five days (July 29th-August 2nd), participants developed ways to teach these musics using story, song, instruments, movement, and dance. They earned certificates in World Music Pedagogy awarded by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings after completing multicultural music units.

Spokane Public Radio sponsored the class’ final performance/informance in the KPBX studio on the last day of the course. Information regarding next summer’s Smithsonian Folkways World Music Pedagogy Course will be announced Spring Quarter 2020.