Professor
experiences African life
CSULB
music professor Michael Carney spent time
studying the people and music of Ghana.
Photo
courtesy of Michael Carney
By
Nicole Lavaud
On-line Forty-Niner
Cal
State Long Beach music professor, Michael
Carney dreamt of going to Africa one day.
And he did, twice.
Carney
has had a passion for percussion instruments
from around the world for years. In 1989,
he began playing, teaching and studying
African music. After years of studying the
traditions and sounds of Africa, Carney
went to Africa.
In
1996, he spent part of the summer at the
African Institute in Ghana, West Africa.
This past summer, Carney was able to go
back to Ghana.
Carney
said the Ghana trip didn't focus so much
on the institution, but rather the native
people located in the different villages.
He said he took a closer look at the people
and their music in a natural environment.
"So
much of our music comes from Africa and
much of our music we're surrounded by in
America is influenced by African music,"
Carney said.
The
impact in 1996 was more of a culture shock
then what he had anticipated, he said Carney
explained no one can prepare you, nor can
you read enough information to prepare you
for what you see and experience. The way
people live and their family values are
different from those in the United States.
Carney
said he was amazed at the villagers' willingness
to share everything they owned.
"People
were so open, warm and inviting," he
said. Carney learned families would share
their food with him, and therefore the families,
themselves, wouldn't eat that night.
Carney
said he was ready to know the country again
after seven years. His first trip made him
more aware of the world on a larger scale
and his place in the world. It also helped
to widen friendships throughout the world.
His
friendships and experiences from the first
trip allowed for more opportunities to play
and learn from other musicians; And to see
new places and more of the countryside,
he said. This trip allowed him to go on
a Safari and to see different animal sites.
Carney's summer trip also allowed him to
watch and take part in rituals. He saw and
heard new instruments, and was able to take
lessons and have "jam" sessions
with the musicians within the villages.
With
all the new and different instruments available
in Africa, Carney said he thought about
his students. He brought back instruments
for the World Percussion Group on campus
to learn, play and perform with.
He
also brought back traditional costumes for
the performances as well.
"Dr.
Carney is very knowledgeable and passionate
about what he teaches," Amaridis Quintana
said, senior music major "He doesn't
only teach you about the history of the
music, but also about the culture where
it lies."
Carney
captured much of his experiences on video
to share with students, colleagues and others.
The instruments are too many in number and
far to heavy to carry around from class
to class.
Wednesday
Feb. 11, Carney will be sharing his experiences
in Ghana at an International Brown Bag sponsored
by the Center for International Education
and the Phi Beta Delta International Honor
Society. The event is located in the Multicultural
Center conference room. A presentation on
"Out of Africa: A look at the Music
and Culture of Ghana, West Africa"
will be presented. There will be a time
for questions and discussions.
"These
presenters share with the campus community
their different experiences and what they
learned," said Linda Olson-Levy, special
program coordinator for the Center of International
Education. "They also encourage people
to become interested in these other cultures
and to encourage students to study abroad.
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