Students who take courses at The Department of Music at Princeton University have the opportunity to learn about systems of music scholarship, composition, history, and performance from around the world.
Across the Department of Music’s varied curriculum there are courses that thread techniques, concepts, rhythms, and methodologies from all five regions of Africa into the course of study.
Scroll down for a selection of courses, and click here to visit the registrar’s website to see all Department of Music course offerings.
MUS 246: Projects in African Dance Drumming
A performance course in African dance drumming with a focus on West African Dundun drumming and dance. Taught by composer and master drummer Olivier Tarpaga, the course provides hands-on experience on Manding and Afrobeat rhythms.
MUS 105: Music Theory through Performance and Composition
MUS 105 is an introduction to music theory concentrating on harmony but also examining rhythm, melody and timbre. Though its focus will principally be on functional tonality, as it manifests itself in the common-practice period of classical music, we will also examine modal music and tonal/modal harmony in other musics such as rock and folk, and there will be a unit on African Rhythm.