Music and Identity, from Texas to Paris

Last summer, a group of students from Texas A&M University attended a salon with African-American trumpeter Josiah Woodson. The meeting was part of the Nation, Race, and Culture program, which brought students to Paris for a month under the direction of Kristan Poirot, Professor of Communication and Journalism at Texas A&M. The program included students of communication, media studies, and black studies, exploring discourses on national identity, culture, and race in France and the U.S.

In a cozy cafe in the heart of the Bois de Bologne, students had the chance to hear the story of Woodson’s career. After studying music with Marcus Belgrave at Oberlin College, Ohio, he moved to Paris, where he regularly composes, teaches music, and performs across the city. Students then discussed Woodson’s more recent projects and achievements, such as his Grammy win for his work on “Love on Top” with Beyoncé and his recently-achieved Creator status in France, meaning that he will be officially supported in his art by the French government.

The meeting also focused on the evolution of jazz music and how its southern New Orleans roots spread to Europe during the First World War as a result of the deployment of thousands of American soldiers. The African American diaspora which followed the First World War brought a new French twist to American jazz and firmly cemented its place in popular culture.

The salon proved to be an enriching event for both parties, as they swapped anecdotes and discussed what it means to be an American in France. Woodson shared stories based on his personal and work experience, providing students with valuable insight into how cultural differences can affect daily life, both personally and professionally.

A little starstruck after this meeting, students left with a newfound appreciation of the cultural and historical significance of jazz in both France and the U.S., the difficulties and rewards of moving to a new country, and the courage to forge one’s own identity.

Accent has extensive experience designing experiential learning activities that complement and build on the learning objectives of faculty-directed courses. Please reach out to Accent’s Program Development team at development@accentglobal.com if you are interested in discussing these ideas for your current or future study abroad program.