A picture of the Dartmouth Green in the Fall with beautiful fall foliage.
« All Posts by this Blogger
A picture of my drumming class with everyone in a semi-circle and their djembe drums and other types of drums in front of them.

While I was registering for classes in the Spring, it hit me that this Summer seemed like the perfect time to take a cool and relaxing music class to fulfill the Arts distributive requirement. I knew exactly which class I wanted since it's so popular and I'd been trying to get in the class for so long. After hearing great things about an African Drumming Class only taught by one teacher and during one time period during the terms it's available, I tried to register for the class last Spring term. But no, many other people beat me to it or really the algorithm just wasn't in my favor this time around. 

So, when I actually got in the class during Summer classes registration I was so happy I literally jumped up and down. Now, after being in the class as an official member with my own drumsticks that I get to keep with me at all times for the Summer, I can say that this class has not disappointed and even surpassed my expectations. From the first day when all 20 of us sat in a circle with nervous smiles as we anticipated the vibes, our Professor Hafiz Farel Shabazz

had us laughing so hard from his charismatic personality. In between giving us introductions to the instruments we use like the djembe and teaching us the different percussion tones and rhythms like the Kakilambe, he's told us interesting life stories and the fact that he's taught at Dartmouth for over 40 years! He's actually the newest winner of the 2024 Dean of Faculty Teaching Award! 

I feel so grateful to get the chance to take his class. Drumming has been a great stress-reliever and smile-inducing time. When I'm patting away at my individual djembe drum in the circle amidst everyone else working to create a beautiful sound, I am able to drift away from thoughts about all the things I need to do and just breathe and focus on doing one thing. Another nice part of class that I appreciate our Prof. so much for is when he goes down the line and asks each one of us how we're doing on a scale of 1-10 at the beginning of each class. He is very attentive and interested in our well-being which is so nice to experience with a Professor.

A picture of my friend and I sitting with djembe drums in between our feet as we played the Son rhythm.
My friend and I playing the Son rhythm on djembe drums!

It's pretty cool that I can whip out my drumsticks from my backpack whenever I want and the times that I've done this my friends and other people have been so intrigued. I remember running into a friend on my way out of lunch at FOCO (1953 Commons Dining Hall) headed to class and she shouted "Woah, you play the drums?!" I just laughed and said "Yeah! Dashing to class for it now so I'll tell you more later!"

Posts You Might Like