Dear Lauren,

Thank you for your interest in the Peace Corps. We have a recruiter for the Arkansas area that would be happy to answer any questions you have about the Peace Corps. Please feel free to contact us at Dallas@peacecorps.gov, in the Subject Line please put “RE: Arkansas Recruiter”. We look forward to speaking with you more about your interest in the Peace Corps.

Sincerely,
Southwest Regional Peace Corps Office

I think the best thing for you to do is to call your regional Peace Corps office and talk to a recruiter. They will tell you what you need to do to become more competitive. I would say that the more experience in any one of these would make you a more competitive candidate:health related activities, teaching, TEFL, agriculture, microfinance, finance; working with youth, and camps. In general i think that music education is a more effective major if you want to apply to PC. I also highly recommend that when you start your application that you keep up with all the Peace Corps’ requests for forms and information that you need to turn in. This will show that you are committed. Any additional questions? feel free to email me directly. Please be aware that i have limited internet access andonly get internet about once a week.
–Sara

— Barbra at MajoringInMusic.com

I am currently a student at Arkansas Tech University. Next semester will be the start of my second year in college and I am trying to graduate with a BA in Music. After I complete my undergrad, I would like to join the Peace Corps then go through a Master’s equivalency program for Music therapy. What advice would you give me to make my application more competitive? Would majoring in Music Education instead of Music Performance be more desirable? And what kind of extracurricular activities are the recruiters looking for? I am not in a state with any recruiters so I have a lot of question on how to go about this.
Thank you!
Lauren

Music in Burkina is a mix from other West African countries such as Mali, Senegal, Niger, Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote D’Ivoire. They don’t know a whole lot about American music but they seem to really like Rap and Eminem and Akon. They also really really like Celine Dion and any type of Reggae. They also seem to like some French music, but in villages where the majority of the population only speaks local language it’s not as popular. Please check out my blog at http://www.ilovealtoclefinafrica.wordpress.com for more infromation on Music in BF. The Music in Jula country is much more famous with Balafons and reflects more the style of Malian music.

The arts and crafts scene here is pretty awesome. Every two years (even years) there is the SIAO salon International de l’artisanat de Ouagadougou. BF is known for woodwork, leatherwork, bronzes, batiks, traditional weaving and pottery.

Please feel free to email me directly at ilovealtoclef@gmail.com with additional questions. I live in a village without electricity or internet and I only get internet once a week. Please keep that in mind if you do not get a quick response.

Good Luck!
–Sara

Bonnie, we’re trying to reach Sara for a response to your comment. Sometimes she doesn’t have internet access in Burkina Faso, so thanks for your patience and check back here often. I know she’ll want to respond!

I have just gotten my placement to Burkina Faso as a math/science teacher and I will be in the
June 3rd group. Hopefully I will get to meet you before you leave since you are there almost 2 years.
I am a violinist and have recently been playing lots of ukulele so I was planning to bring only the
ukulele…. how did you manage the two instruments? No purse since you can only have two
carryons. And do you have trouble buying more strings for the ukulele?? Are they available
or should I have lots of sets with me?

And what types of music are popular in BF? Do they know American rock songs or do they
prefer French rock or French folk? I have been practicing both but it would be good to know.

I am from Ann Arbor and apparently I may meet your parents at one of the RPCV dinners
before I leave.

Any help you can give me about the music would be good. Also, do you have anything to
say about the arts and crafts of the country? I will wait to hear from you before asking more
questions. Thanks very much, Bonnie Ion

It was not particularly awkard to travel with two instuments. I have traveled overseas with both a violin and a viola before. I brought a lesser quality instrument, and so far, I haven’t had many problems with it. You have plenty of time to practice, but it’s more about extreme factors that make it difficult. It’s the hot season now in Burkina Faso – over 90 degrees in the morning and it can get as hot as 120.

My community loves when I play, and music is a big part of Burkinabe culture, but every country is different. Please feel free to send more questions.

Thank you for your help,
Jack W.