Year6WestAfricanMusicThe BIG QUESTION – How is music an important part of the African culture?

AfricanDrummingDjembeThemostwell-knowndrumfromWestAfrica

Threedifferentsoundscanbeplayedbyusingdifferentpartsofthehandanddifferentpartsofthedrum

Tone–tautsoundplayedontherimBassnotes-bouncinghand-middleofthedrumSlap–flathandonthemiddle/edgedrum

Donno-thetalkingdrumDrumshavetradi@onallybeenusedtocommunicate.DifferentpitchescanbemadebysqueezingthestringsontheoutsideofthedrumandarhythmPlayedwithahookeds@ckthedrumrhythmscarryacrossthelandtocommunicateemergenciesaswellasbeingusedtoaccompanydancingforvariousoccasions.TheMasterDrummerleadsadrumensemblebyimprovisingflamboyantsolosandgivingcuesfortheensembletoplayaTimelineaEerthesolo.Polyphonictexture–Manysoundslayeredtogether.Complexrhythmscombinedtogethercreatecrossrhythms.SyncopaFon–wheretheemphasisisnotonthemainbeatcrea@nganoff-beateffect.

AfricanVocalMusicHarmonyDifferentpartssungatthesame@meusuallyformingchords.AcappellaVocalmusicsunginharmonywithoutaccompaniment.CallandResponseAleadersingsthecall,agroupresponds.PentatonicFivenotepaLernorscaleformingamelody.UlulaFng–ahighpitchedlongsoundcombinedwitharhythmicmovementofthetonguebackandforthtoexpressjoy,sorroworcelebra@on.

Instrumentalmusic

Mbira/ThumbpianoMetalstripsoverapieceofwoodorhollowgourdareplayedwithboththumbs. Balofon–XylophonestyleinstrumentplayingrepeatedpaLerns(Os@na@).Woodenbarsoverhollowedoutgourdssoundchamber.Kora–Aharplikeinstrumentmadewithfishinglinestrungoverahollowedoutgourd.ThestringsaretunedandpluckedtomakegentlebutcomplexpaLerns.

AgogoBellsTwodifferentsizemetalbellscutthroughthetextureofthedrumensemble,givingastrongleadtotherhythm.ShekereAshakermadefromahollowedoutgourdwithbeads/seedsorshellsstrungontheoutside.Rhythmsaremadebyshakingandmovingthebeads,andoEenperformersdanceatthesame@me.

•  Africandrummusicisfast,mulF-layered,loudandoPenaccompaniesdancing•  MusicbringsthecommunitytogetherandiscentraltofamilycelebraFons•  Tunedinstrumentsareusedtoaccompanysolosinging•  AfricanmusicisoPencomplexandsyncopated(offbeat/crossrhythms)•  TheroleoftheMastermusicianishandeddownthroughgeneraFons

Instrumentsaremadefromorganicmaterials;wood,animalskin,seeds,gourdsandoccasionallymetal.

Hollowedoutgourdsareusedformanyinstruments.

Year6WestAfricanMusicThe BIG QUESTION – How is music an important part of the African culture?

AfricanDrummingDjembeThemostwell-knowndrumfromWestAfrica

Threedifferentsoundscanbeplayedbyusingdifferentpartsofthehandanddifferentpartsofthedrum

Tone–tautsoundplayedontherimBassnotes-bouncinghand-middleofthedrumSlap–flathandonthemiddle/edgedrum

Donno-thetalkingdrumDrumshavetradi@onallybeenusedtocommunicate.DifferentpitchescanbemadebysqueezingthestringsontheoutsideofthedrumandarhythmPlayedwithahookeds@ckthedrumrhythmscarryacrossthelandtocommunicateemergenciesaswellasbeingusedtoaccompanydancingforvariousoccasions.TheMasterDrummerleadsadrumensemblebyimprovisingflamboyantsolosandgivingcuesfortheensembletoplayaTimelineaEerthesolo.Polyphonictexture–Manysoundslayeredtogether.Complexrhythmscombinedtogethercreatecrossrhythms.SyncopaFon–wheretheemphasisisnotonthemainbeatcrea@nganoff-beateffect.

AfricanVocalMusicHarmonyDifferentpartssungatthesame@meusuallyformingchords.AcappellaVocalmusicsunginharmonywithoutaccompaniment.CallandResponseAleadersingsthecall,agroupresponds.PentatonicFivenotepaLernorscaleformingamelody.UlulaFng–ahighpitchedlongsoundcombinedwitharhythmicmovementofthetonguebackandforthtoexpressjoy,sorroworcelebra@on.

Instrumentalmusic

Mbira/ThumbpianoMetalstripsoverapieceofwoodorhollowgourdareplayedwithboththumbs. Balofon–XylophonestyleinstrumentplayingrepeatedpaLerns(Os@na@).Woodenbarsoverhollowedoutgourdssoundchamber.Kora–Aharplikeinstrumentmadewithfishinglinestrungoverahollowedoutgourd.ThestringsaretunedandpluckedtomakegentlebutcomplexpaLerns.

AgogoBellsTwodifferentsizemetalbellscutthroughthetextureofthedrumensemble,givingastrongleadtotherhythm.ShekereAshakermadefromahollowedoutgourdwithbeads/seedsorshellsstrungontheoutside.Rhythmsaremadebyshakingandmovingthebeads,andoEenperformersdanceatthesame@me.

•  Africandrummusicisfast,mulF-layered,loudandoPenaccompaniesdancing•  MusicbringsthecommunitytogetherandiscentraltofamilycelebraFons•  Tunedinstrumentsareusedtoaccompanysolosinging•  AfricanmusicisoPencomplexandsyncopated(offbeat/crossrhythms)•  TheroleoftheMastermusicianishandeddownthroughgeneraFons

Instrumentsaremadefromorganicmaterials;wood,animalskin,seeds,gourdsandoccasionallymetal.

Hollowedoutgourdsareusedformanyinstruments.