Carolyn Koebel, Director of Taiko / Manager of International Percussion Ensembles
Samuel Nalangira, Director of East African Drumming
Jean Raabe, Director of Steel Pan
Requirements
No audition is required. Just come with an interest to explore rhythm and drumming! Please attend the first class and instructions will be given.
Throughout the school year, at least 1 performance is held each quarter.
Rehearsal Schedule
Days and Times:
Steel Pan Drumming:
Wednesdays, 4:10 – 6pm
Fall Quarter only.
East African Drumming:
Tuesdays, 7 – 9pm
Taiko:
Wednesdays, 6:30 – 9pm
Location:
All Percussion Ensembles meet in the Band Room, #11 in the Light Fine Arts Building
Contact
For more information on the International Percussion Ensembles, please email Carolyn Koebel:
East African Ensemble
Taught by Samuel Nalangira, students receive hands-on training in various forms of the East African drumming style, principally using Djembes. Meetings are on Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm in the Band Rehearsal Room, #11 in the Light Fine Arts Building. Performances are held on Wednesday of 10th week each quarter and possibly at various campus events.
Caribbean Steelpans
Under the direction of Jean Raabe, students join together in playing and moving to Caribbean music useful to various populations. Discover accessible multicultural resources from the twin-island nation of Trinidad & Tobago. Grow your repertoire with authentic Caribbean music and activities. Learn about the birth, growth, and practice of music therapy in Trinidad & Tobago, the land of calypso music and steel drums. Meetings are on Wednesdays from 4:10-6pm in the Band Rehearsal Room, #11 in the Light Fine Arts Building. Performances are held on Wednesday of 10th week each quarter and possibly at various campus events.
Japanese Taiko
Managed and taught by Carolyn Koebel, the Kalamazoo College Taiko Drumming Troupe welcomes all students to join in the exploration of this exciting Japanese art form. Recent retiree Esther Vandecar, a professional taiko performer and teacher in the USA and Japan, frequently joins classes to provide valuable insight on technique and form. Meetings are on Wednesdays from 6:30-9pm in the Band Rehearsal Room, #11 in the Light Fine Arts Building. Performances are held on Wednesdays of 10th week quarter and at various campus events including AsiaFest in the spring quarter. Carolyn looks forward to performing as support for all the people that will fall in love with this wonderful art form.
Past Performances
2021-2022
Video/Audio samples coming.