Drum Carving Program at the Accra Artisans Exchange

During the 4-week program, students will work one-on-one with a professional artisan or performer for
4 hours a day, 5 days a week. Students may choose the type of training they do. See below for
options. Most students choose to do an additional 1 to 2 hours of training a day in a discipline that is
not their main training track. These additional hours are paid for directly to the teacher, and usually
run at about US$7-8 per hour. All training takes place at the Arts Center in Accra unless otherwise
stated.

Training Tracks:

Drum Carving - Students choose the type of drum they wish to carve from among the following four:
Djembe, Dundun, Kpanlogo, Talking Drum. The carving partners will focus on building the drum for
superior sound as well as artistic integrity in the long tradition of Ghanaian artistry, incorporating
traditional Asante Adinkra designs into the carving of the drum base. At the end of the 4 week
session, each student will leave with the personalized drum they carved.

Drumming - The teacher will customize the lessons according to the experience of the student.
Students learn West African rhythms, including traditional Ghanaian rhythms. With beginners, the
rhythms are broken down piece by piece, with a focus on basic technique. Experienced drummers will
have the opportunity to learn advanced techniques and style, as well as complex rhythms. Students
have the opportunity to rehearse with our cultural performance troupe.

Dance - Students learn traditional Ghanaian and West African dances. Each dance is broken down
step by step. The historical and social significance of the dance is explained along with the physical
instructions for performing the dance. Students have the opportunity to rehearse with our cultural
performance troupe.

Kente Weaving - Students apprentice with a professional kente weaver, learning this famous
Ghanaian weaving technique. Kente cloth was at one time worn primarily by Ghanaian royalty. It is still
prized by Ghanaians today and worn on special occasions. Students will learn about traditional
Ghanaian symbols and patterns. The intricate weaving techniques make the kente weaving process
slow and precise. It is a skill reserved for the few, and mastered by even fewer. This is a special
opportunity to learn this craft directly from a professional artisan. At the end of the 4 week session,
students will leave with a personalized kente cloth they weave themselves.

Batik - Students apprentice with a professional batik maker, learning the techniques of batik making
as well as the history and meaning of the patterns and symbols used. At the end of the 4 week
sessions, students will leave with batik cloths they have made themselves.

Wood Carving - Students apprentice with a professional wood carver in Accra, using traditional
manual tools to carve detailed designs into various wooden pieces. At the end of the 4 week session,
students will leave with a wooden piece that they have carved themselves.

Basket/Furniture Weaving - Students apprentice with a professional basket and furniture weaver.
There are several different mediums that are used in Ghana, among the most common is bamboo.
Students will learn different West African styles and techniques. Furniture pieces include chairs,
chests, ottomans, tables, etc. At the end of the 4 week session, students will leave with one or more
(depends on facility of the student) baskets/furniture pieces that they have weaved themselves. For
smaller pieces, students may bring them on the plane. Students may want to ship larger items. Email
for shipping estimates.

ACCOMMODATION
Students share a house in a typical neighborhood in Accra, with two to four students per bedroom.
The house is bright and airy with a lounge and an outdoor patio. Every room is furnished with
lockable cabinets, window screens and a fan; each bed is outfitted with a mosquito net. Every
weekday, students take a tro-tro (a shared-ride minivan, and the local equivalent of a public bus) to
the Art Center and back. Breakfast and dinner are provided at the house. There are a variety of
Ghanaian dishes available daily, including vegetarian and vegan options.

EXTRA-CURRICULARS
Beyond the carving there is plenty to do, see, and learn in Accra and in Ghana. With our extensive
network of people in and beyond Accra, we will be more than happy to connect you with just about
anyone from drumming teachers to tour guides to dress makers. Whatever you want to do or buy, we
will set you up with the best people for the job who will charge you fair, local prices. We will act as the
mediators, introducing you to people who we’ve worked with and trust. Then you will be able to deal
with them directly.

At least every other weekend we organize a trip outside Accra. During the week, there are day trips to
the beach and other local attractions, with nights out at local clubs, where in addition to western hip-
hop and reggae, you will be able to sample some of the excellent Ghanaian Hip-Life music. It is our
greatest hope that every student gets the most out of their time in Ghana and to that end we will
always be providing opportunities for exciting, interesting, and challenging experiences. Toward our
aim of cultural exchange, students are highly encouraged to bring with them any items, such as
musical instruments, books, pictures, etc. that they can share with Ghanaians and fellow students.
They are also encouraged to bring their opinions, concerns, ideas, and hopes for discussion and
debate.

PROGRAM FEE

Drum Carving, Drumming, Dancing Tracks
The program fee as of January 2010 is US$1250* per student. For the drum carving track there is a
US$75 materials fee (payable in cash upon arrival). This fee goes towards the cost of transporting the
raw materials from the village and for the materials themselves. With payment of the US$75 materials
fee, students receive the special privilege of going to the village where the wood for the drum comes
from, choosing the log the for their own drum, and participating in the process of hollowing it out for
the drum base. This gives students the rare opportunity to be involved in the creation of their drum
from the very beginning stages. Knowing where their drum comes from creates a close relationship
between the drummer and the drum.

There is a non-refundable US$50 application fee which is included in the US$1250 program fee and
will go towards the cost of the program, should you complete the enrollment process.

The US$1250 program fee covers the training, the accommodation, breakfast and dinner, and the
completed drum. Students will be responsible for paying their own airfare to and from Ghana, daily
transport, lunch and any other food expenses other than breakfast and dinner, any extra-curricular
activities, and any other travel accommodations and journeys.

Kente Weaving, Batik, Wood Carving, Basket/Furniture Weaving Tracks
The program fee is US$1400* per student. There is a materials fee which will be determined by the
artisan and payable in cash upon arrival (approx US$100).

There is a non-refundable US$50 application fee which is included in the US$1400 program fee and
will go towards the cost of the program, should you complete the enrollment process.

The US$1400 program fee covers the training, the accommodation, breakfast and dinner, and the
piece(s) completed by the student. Students will be responsible for paying their own airfare to and
from Ghana, daily transport, lunch and any other food expenses other than breakfast and dinner, any
extra-curricular activities, and any other travel accommodations and journeys.

* Unfortunately, we have had to raise our program fee from US$1000 to what it is now. This is the
official new fee (some sites may still list our old fee). It is very important to us that we make this
program affordable so that as many people as possible have the opportunity to join. However, the
sharp and continuing rise in fuel costs in Ghana have increased the price of just about everything
and it is impossible for us to keep the program fee at what it was without compromising one of our
goals, which is to bring fair and sustainable income to the artisans we work with. We simply could not
cover our costs and pay the teachers a fair price at this fee with the way things are going
economically in Ghana now. Our program fee is still among the most affordable out there and we are
trying even harder than ever now to provide our students with an incredible experience.

DATES
The program starts on the first Monday of every month and lasts for 4 weeks. Students are to
arrive on the Saturday or Sunday immediately prior to program start. In order to keep our
costs down, and therefore, the program fee as low as we can, we must ensure uniformity and routine
in the way the program is run. Unfortunately, the high price of fuel and the size of staff required to
transport and keep track of students arriving on variable dates make it difficult for us to be flexible on
this issue. However, we will consider exceptions on a case by case basis.

You are guaranteed your bed until the Friday night of your last week. In many cases, you may be able
to stay in the accommodations later than that for an additional nominal fee. If, for whatever reason,
this is not possible, we can help you find suitable accommodations in one of the many hotels in the
area, for as low as US$10 a night.