Dr. Robert J. Damm is Professor of Music and Director of Music Education Partnerships at MSU.   An active performer, his recitals have showcased many world music instruments such as African xylophones, berimbau musical bow, cajon, congas, djembe, doumbec, various frame drums, and steel drums.  His programs have also featured diverse musical styles in which he played the marimba, vibraphone, timpani, multiple-percussion, and drum set.  His freelance performing activity includes work with Big Joe Shelton, the Bill Cooke Trio, Jesse Robinson and the Hip Waders, Blues Axis, El Rio Trio, and the Starkville-MSU Symphony.  He has studied music and culture in Cuba, Ghana, and Mali.  He has published articles concerning the jembe in Mali, Mississippi hill country fife and drum music, the fanga rhythm, classic rudimental snare drum repertoire, samba, and the udu.  His current research is focused on the bamboula rhythm of New Orleans, duo repertoire for hand drums, and drum circles.  He is a certified Orff-Schulwerk teacher who presents musical concepts through singing, dancing, drama, and the use of percussion instruments.  Robert is a Smithsonian Folkways certified teacher of world music having completed an intensive training in world music pedagogy at the University of Washington.  His original compositions are published by HoneyRock and HaMar.  He has served as President of the Mississippi PAS chapter.