Learning Gyil

Using audio recordings created specifically for this project, Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame member Bernard Woma incorporates a combination of Dagara (Ghana/Burkino Faso) oral tradition and Western musical transcriptions to bring the music of the gyil, the Dagara xylophone tradition, to global audiences. This text includes an introduction to Dagara musical concepts and composition; a performance synopsis of the gyil in Dagara culture; a line-by-line approach to learning gyil; technical instruction on gyil and drumming; Bernard Woma's teaching philosophy; Dagara musical concepts for the intermediate to advanced gyil player; a repertoire progressing from basic ensemble arrangements to advanced solo techniques; easy-to-read transcriptions for adaptation to other instruments; ensemble arrangements suitable for general music classes; drum accompaniments for all pieces; a detailed examination of six pieces taught by Bernard at the Bernard Woma Dagara Music Center; audio examples demonstrated by Bernard Woma; and a glossary of Dagara musical terms with audio pronunciations.