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Trinidad Steel, Part 1

Bellwork: Define Terms

Melody-- A sequence of notes that make up the theme of a song. Also known as an ear bug—it’s the part of the song you can hum or sing along with.

Pitch-- The relative highness or lowness that we hear in a sound

Phrase—a musical sentence. Use the example “My country Tis of thee”.

Ethnomusicology- The scholarly study of any music within its contemporary cultural context

Interval-- The distance between any two tones—can be played successively or simultaneously

Announcements

Homework: Reading Outline #1 is due Friday.

Outcomes

Scholars Will:

Grammar: Learn about the roots of the steel drum in Trinidad.

Rhetoric:

Write a soliloquy about a Trinidadian

CFU: Think, Pair Share

Take 30 seconds and write down a definition of ethnomusicology in your own words.

Share it with a partner.

Pre-Knowledge

What is a steel drum?

What do you hit it with?

To which instrument family does it belong?

Is it a pitched or non-pitched instrument?

Can you play more than one note at a time?

What is the name of the country right next to Trinidad?

How long ago do you think steel drums were created?

Active Listening: Soulful Calypso

While you are listening to this song follow along in your packet and identify the following:

Describe the sounds you are hearing. Do these sound similar to sounds you hear everyday?

How many different drums do you think are playing?

Listen to the melody. How many large phrases do you hear?

Just the facts, PanListening Questions #1

The instrument playing the melody is called the ping pong pan.

This song is made up of two phrases (play the two phrases on the piano)

To sustain a note on a malleted percussion instrument you must do a roll. This is when alternate mallets strike the same note in rapid succession. (try creating a roll with your fingers on your binder or with a pencil)

Syncopation is used frequently in this piece—where a phrase or motive begins on an off-beat. (Divide the class in half—have half of them clap on the beat—first and then the other half claps off-beat)

CFU: Gallery Walk

On a post-it, write one fact about the song “Soulful Calypso”

Choose a category from the large post-its on the wall and place your fact where you think it fits.

The three categories are:

Melody, Rhythm, Instrument Details

Now perform a gallery walk and copy down two other responses from the large post-it you contributed to.

Guided Notes

History of the steel drum:

Trinidad is comprised mainly of two groups: Afro-Caribbean and East Indian.

Both the cultures of Africa and India love the drum.

Djembe (picture) sound bite

Tabla (picture) sound bite

Trinidad was emancipated in 1834.

Djembe- video

Steel drum history

During their ordeal in the bonds of slavery, Afro-Caribbean peoples used complex drumming rhythms during their religious and social ceremonies.

Trinidad was emancipated in 1834.

During their ordeal in the bonds of slavery, Afro-Caribbean peoples used complex drumming rhythms during their religious and social ceremonies.

The white plantation owners didn’t understand the importance and the beauty of the slaves’ drumming.

They saw the drumming as a pagan ritual, designed to incite the other slaves into a revolt.

Tabla

CFU: Quote response

Listen to this quote and articulate a response:

You may write it or just think about it. Be prepared to share your response with the class:

“Some people feel that some others should never enjoy themselves…and that music should belong to one particular class.” –Gomes

The Evolution of the Steel Drum: Facts

Even into the 20th century the Trinidadians and police clashed over the practice of drumming, sometimes resulting in many deaths.

As a result of this, new ways were invented so that afro-Caribbean's could continue to express themselves.

They started by hitting pieces of bamboo of differing lengths and diameters on the ground.

Through accident, a dustbin covered was used one day and as it was hit against the ground creating dents in the surface was discovered to have the ability to produced four pitches by hitting the various bends.

Playwrights—in pairs, or individually

Write a short soliloquy (at least 4 sentences) about the history of the steel drum from the point of view of one of the following characters:

A Trinidadian slave

A member of the police

The Trinidadian who invented the steel drum

A Trinidadian of East-Indian origin who plays the Tabla

Exit Ticket

How was the steel drum discovered?

What is the name of the steel drum which plays the melody?

The scholarly study of any music within its contemporary cultural context is called:

Define Syncopation

This is also known as a musical sentence