The Online Reflector

The University of Indianapolis held the African Drum Ensemble on Dec. 7 in Ruth Lilly Performance Hall in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center.

Music Faculty Adjunct and Professor of Percussion Art Reiner directed the ensemble, which is now in its 21st year. Reiner is a professional percussionist, is currently a studio musician and performs with three different bands. He has performed with entertainers such as Bob Hope, George Burns and Sandy Patti, as well as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Opera, to name just a few.

“I think that part of why this course is so popular is that there is no official final, other than doing the performance. And the performance is pretty family-oriented,” Reiner said. “There are a lot of parents and grandparents that will come in to see their kids.”

Reiner discussed the basics of the course, which are to learn music skills and then progress to some singing and dancing for the performance.

“Often times the kids realize [that] they can do more than they thought,” he said. “I want my course to be fun and not stressful, [and] for the kids to have a good time.”

Junior psychology and pre-occupational therapy major Ashlee Fishburn explained her reasons for taking the course.

“It seemed easy and fun. I think that when we are performing, we will have fun,” she said. “We have put in the practice, and I think the fact [that] this is so out of most of our elements makes it better.”

Junior math education major Jacob Surface is another one of Reiner’s students, and he, too, was excited to participate in the performance.

“I got involved because two other friends, who are also math majors, wanted us to take it together,” he said.

Surface also said he was expecting a sizeable crowd because of the usually good turnout.

The performance featured music from Cuba, Puerto Rico and Brazil. Traditional music from northern Brazil, called “Baion,” opened the program, followed by the Cuban “Cha Cha.”

Reiner teaches two classes, divided into the Tuesday and Wednesday groups. The groups switched midway through the program, and the Wednesday group played the Puerto Rican “Bomba” and traditional southern Brazilian “Batucada.” As each group was changing or getting ready to play, Reiner would share some history of each region and its music.

The final ensemble was called the “Gpan Logo.” It was traditional Ghanaian music, which both groups performed together. One group played while the other danced, and then they would switch.

“I thought it [the dancing] was hilarious,” said sophomore pre-occupational therapy major Makenzie LaPack. “For students who were not used to dancing, a lot of them did a good job. I thought the performance was very well put together, very fun. The historical background was very interesting, such as him [Reiner] telling us where the instruments came from and explaining how each country played the instruments differently.”

Reiner uses authentic instruments in his class.

“The kids have done a good job with learning how to play [and] when to play their part. And I think they have a real sense of accomplishment,” he said. “Every performance, the kids always have fun.”