Ghana, West Africa Study Abroad
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Dear Friends and Family,
My purpose for writing this letter is to inform you on a study abroad trip I plan on taking to Ghana, West Africa. While in Ghana, I will be furthering my knowledge at the Dagara Music Center in gyil repertoire (Ghanaian Xylophone), drumming and dancing, as well as West African Culture. The trip is organized and lead by Bernard Woma, who is also the founder and director of the Dagara Music Center. Bernard is an internationally famous African musician specializing on gyil, and having recorded several albums. Bernard is also the founder of the Saakamu Dance Troupe, which have toured internationally presenting on traditional Ghanaian music. Here is where I am asking for any help or assistance anyone could offer. While at West Virginia University, I applied for financial assistance through financial aid to help me go on this study abroad trip, and everything was going well until the day before I graduated where they revoked all of my funding because I am technically not a degree seeking student at the University. However, I am still at student because I will be starting my Masters in the fall at Eastern Kentucky University in Percussion Performance having a focus in world music. With that being said, I have looked into several investments to help me go on this trip as well as doing some other fundraising on my own. The total cost of the trip is $3,700 which includes a round trip flight from JFK to Accra, pickup and drop off at the Accra airport in Ghana, six hours of music lessons every day, housing/room and board, as well as three meals a day at the Center. As you can see, the program is not just a study of music and arts alone; but it covers a wide range of cultural experiences. This is an engaging trip with great learning experiences as well as an exchange of knowledge and ideas from both sides of the world. With this experience, I will be bringing what I learn back to EKU as well as for my own personal teaching. I really enjoy teaching percussion, but what I enjoy most about learning and teaching world percussion is that there is always the added level of culture one should know about the country, music, and people.
Thank you so much for your help and assistance,
David Sharp
My purpose for writing this letter is to inform you on a study abroad trip I plan on taking to Ghana, West Africa. While in Ghana, I will be furthering my knowledge at the Dagara Music Center in gyil repertoire (Ghanaian Xylophone), drumming and dancing, as well as West African Culture. The trip is organized and lead by Bernard Woma, who is also the founder and director of the Dagara Music Center. Bernard is an internationally famous African musician specializing on gyil, and having recorded several albums. Bernard is also the founder of the Saakamu Dance Troupe, which have toured internationally presenting on traditional Ghanaian music. Here is where I am asking for any help or assistance anyone could offer. While at West Virginia University, I applied for financial assistance through financial aid to help me go on this study abroad trip, and everything was going well until the day before I graduated where they revoked all of my funding because I am technically not a degree seeking student at the University. However, I am still at student because I will be starting my Masters in the fall at Eastern Kentucky University in Percussion Performance having a focus in world music. With that being said, I have looked into several investments to help me go on this trip as well as doing some other fundraising on my own. The total cost of the trip is $3,700 which includes a round trip flight from JFK to Accra, pickup and drop off at the Accra airport in Ghana, six hours of music lessons every day, housing/room and board, as well as three meals a day at the Center. As you can see, the program is not just a study of music and arts alone; but it covers a wide range of cultural experiences. This is an engaging trip with great learning experiences as well as an exchange of knowledge and ideas from both sides of the world. With this experience, I will be bringing what I learn back to EKU as well as for my own personal teaching. I really enjoy teaching percussion, but what I enjoy most about learning and teaching world percussion is that there is always the added level of culture one should know about the country, music, and people.
Thank you so much for your help and assistance,
David Sharp
Organizer
David Sharp Jr.
Organizer
Cambridge, MD
