Choral Singing and Wellbeing: Findings from a Survey of the Mixed-Chorus Experience from Music Students of the University of Education Winneba, Ghana

Choral singing, termed ‘mixed chorus’, is an integral part of the academic activities of the Department of Music Education, University of Education, Winneba. However, the impact of the singing on the wellbeing of the students and lecturers is largely unexplored. With 350 participants, this study contributes to filling that gap. Using questionnaire and interviews, the article examines the health benefits of singing in terms of emotional, psychological, social and physical wellbeing. It concludes that the mixed chorus has a great impact on the total health of the participants. However, this impact is dependent on some generative mechanisms needed inthe training of choral singers

Compositional processes of Xylafrique: A Contemporary Art Composition based on the Dagaaba gyil of Ghana.

In recent years, theorist and creative ethnomusicologists have been stressing on the use of elements in indigenous music to achieve syncretism in musical compositions. This article examines the compositional processes of Xylafrique, a contemporary art composition based on Dagaaba gyil of Ghana. It delineates traditional elements in relation to conventions of xylophone musical genre of the Dagaaba.  It highlights the compositional applications of both Western and African music based on Webster’s model of creative thinking, Nketia’s syncretic approach theory and the bi-musicality and African Pianism theories of Euba. Xylafrique provides a theoretical platform that aids the study of traditional music that could be adapted for other non-Western music traditions. It exposes selected traditional idioms of Dagaaba gyil genre to the world of composition. The composition adds to the repertoire of art music and therefore envisaged that it will foster creativity in not only students studying composition but art composers who use traditional elements in constructing their imaginative ideas in creating music. Keywords: Xylafrique, gyil, Dagaaba, syncretic, bi-musicality, African-pianis

Twenty Five Years of Choral Music Performance: Contribution of Winneba Youth Choir (WYC) in the Socio-Economic Development of Ghana.

This paper investigates the beginnings, performance setting, challenges and the benefits derived from the activities of Winneba Youth Choir in the socioeconomic development of Ghana. This descriptive qualitative study highlights how the activities of Winneba Youth Choir have yielded positive results in terms of employment, education and social recognition (identity) among the youth in Winneba and its environs. The paper addresses the need in preserving the authenticity of the choral musical Art as one of the avenues in developing the cultural values of an individual. It is therefore recommended that every youth experiences any of the musical arts in his/her lifetime. Keywords: choral music, performance, contribution, socio-economic, development

Music Making and Ban on Drumming Among the Winneba People of Ghana

The paper reports an ethnographic study of music making and ban on drumming among the Winneba people of Ghana. Despite the volume of research on the use of music for several occasions in the African community, much attention has not been given to the observance of complete silence as part of the life of some African Societies. This paper discusses the place of ban on drumming in a community where music making permeates the lives of the people. It sought to document how the period of silence is negotiated in the contemporary society. Through purposive sampling and snowballing, traditional leaders and priests, members of historical missionary churches, and those of the Pentecostal/Charismatic orientation were interviewed and their activities within the period of the ban observed. Observance of the ban was, however, not uniform among the Christians. While the mission churches have a policy of accommodating local tradition and to observe the ban by reducing the intensity of music making during the period, the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches, however, insist on not observing the ban, because of its association with traditional deities. The paper reveals that though music forms an important part of the life of the Winneba people in Ghana just as most African communities, ban on drumming is not only a belief that had purely been held as a traditional custom from ancestors, it also conveys the principle of silence, which is beneficial to humans in many respects. Keywords: Effutu, ban on drumming, Winneba, social stability DOI: 10.7176/JCSD/60-04 Publication date:June 30th 202

Choral Singing and Wellbeing: Findings from a Survey of the Mixed - Chorus Experience from Music Students of the University of Education Winneba, Ghana

Abstract: Choral singing, termed ‘mixed chorus’ is an integral part of the academic activities of the Department of Music Education, University of Education, Winneba. However, the impact of the singing on the wellbeing of the students and lecturers is largely unexplored. With 350 participants, this study contributes to filling that gap. Using questionnaire and interviews, the article examines the health benefits of singing in terms of emotional, psychological, social and physical wellbeing. It concludes that the mixed chorus has a great impact on the total health of the participants. However, this impact is dependent on some generative mechanisms needed in the training of choral singers