Educational Programs
Ryan M. Camara is committed to the preservation and promotion of traditional arts, the dissemination of accurate historical and cultural information, and the advancement of technical proficiency and musicianship through enjoyable and inventive educational processes.
Ryan advocates a holistic multiple-discipline approach to arts education utilizing culturally authentic drumming, dance, and language to cultivate essential music, movement and life skills while fostering a respect and appreciation for other cultures and inspiring a life-long connection to the arts.
Ryan M. Camara has developed engaging and dynamic, hands-on educational programs for populations of all ages, levels, needs and abilities. From elementary music through graduate level studies, community hobbyists through professional musicians, special needs through professional music teachers, Ryan's programs are inspiring and imaginative combining the finest technical instruction with unparalleled cultural knowledge in a fun and easy-to-learn format.
Ryan Camara also offers new and exciting ways to get you and/or your students drumming and dancing today with the book/DVD/CD, West African Drum and Dance: A Yankadi - Macrou Celebration from Alfred Publishing, the Denbaya Instructional CD Series, and Djembelesson.org - online West African drumming resource center.
Ryan's affinity for teaching stems from his days as an ethnomusicology student at UCLA where he was dissatisfied with scarcity of factual information on jembe and dundun history and the lack of integration and communication between department of various African disciplines. Ryan, who had already traveled to Guinea before his junior year, found himself more and more inexplicably drawn to the source and what would become on of his life's calling. Making 12 trips to Guinea in 10 years, he learned to speak the Susu language and studied with masters and jeli's (griots) in regions throughout Guinea searching for the, "Secrets of the Tree" and the origins and meanings of rhythms and dances. While always learning, Ryan was called upon by African masters to use his unique skill sets and knowledge acquired in Africa to help preserve the sacred traditions of Guinea by sharing them with the world. It is to this calling that Ryan teaches residencies, workshops and classes.
"I never really wanted to teach this music, I was just fascinated with the music and culture and wanted to learn all that could," said Ryan. "I will always be student and will always have more to learn. That's why I always return to Guinea. Both my teachers and I realized early on however, that because of the my background in music, ability to speak the language, and my passion for the culture, I could get others excited about traditional West African drum and dance. I soon found that I loved helping others excel at devolping techniques and playing rhythms and hoped to inspire them to want to learn more about Guinea and its rich cultural heritage. While I hope I've become a better instructor over the years, it is still for my teachers, my wife and son, and the rest of the people of Guinea who long to be heard, that I speak to others about Guinea with both my voice and my drum."
Please take a few moments to explore Ryan's educational programs and don't hesitate to contact Ryan for information on bringing him to your school or community.
