ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Music is a universal language that can help connect communities with cultures. From learning the rhythms and routines, it's a learning process that has allowed Korean Americans to explore their roots in traditional drumming.

From feeling the beat to teaching it, working together is key at the Rochester Korean Percussion Ensemble.

What You Need To Know

  • The janggu (장구), is an hour-glass-shaped drum with two heads is the most representative drum in traditional Korean music and is found in nearly all types of music

  • Provided by professor Sangmi Kang from the Eastman School of Music, herself and the Rochester Korean Percussion ensemble teaches the Janggu drum and non-Western music

  • For Korean adoptees it has been a journey of finding a sense of belonging but also their identity, finding Korean drumming to connect them to their roots

The ensemble thrives off of more than just playing together, but also understanding each other.

“Ezra is the best teacher out there," performer Jacob Weishaar said. "I have learned so much from him." 

“Paul is really energetic,” performer Ezra Shin said. “He's always the first one to kind of bring up new ideas of how to do stuff. And he's always really excited to learn the drums.”

“I'm glad to be surrounded by them, but also for them to have that knowledge of this Korean music and a Korean cultural heritage,” performer Paul Cripps said.

For some, growing up as a Korean American in upstate New York can often come with its challenges.

“It's been this journey of trying to find places, find a teacher and then find people who are willing to do it with me because there's I mean, there's just not that many opportunities in America,” Shin said. “And I'm hoping through this group that we kind of expand that.”

For Korean adoptees Paul Cripps and Jacob Weishaar, it has been a journey of finding a sense of belonging, as well as their identity. 

“I wanted to get closer to my roots, my heritage, you know, might be able to get into all the cultural things that I wasn't able to when I was a kid,” Cripps said. “So that's why this is such a great outlet, even to get to know other Koreans.”

They are feeling closer to their roots through traditional drumming.

“There was really no other way to express a Korean side of me,” Shin said. “And that's where the Janggu kind of helped connect me to that because I can play, you know, very traditional beats, but I otherwise wouldn't really be able to in this American setting.” 

Discovering their own sound, the group continues to teach others to explore the culture. 

“When you get to actually try it, they have someone come to the library and perform it for you,” Cripps said. “It's just a good feeling for us to be able to share that with the community.”

As the sounds of South Korea go beyond more than just the music, but directly into their lives. 

“It's important for us to not only continue the culture and to continue the drumming and for having that out there, but also for people to learn about that,” Cripps said.

To learn more about the Rochester Korean Percussion Ensemble or for more updates about future performances and an interactive exploration of the Janggu drum and non-Western music with curriculum provided by Professor Sangmi Kang from the Eastman School of Music, you can contact skang@esm.rochester.edu.