Grade/Subject: Middle School Chorus
Materials: class computer (Gateway or computer w/ projector); PowerPoint presentation on African music and instruments; music for Dansi Na Kuimba by Dave and Jean Perry; African Odyssey CD from Putamayo World Music; map
Anticipatory Set/Do Now: Play African CD as students enter room. The students will be instructed to write down where they think the music may be from.
Purpose: This lesson will allow students to understand the cultural elements of a performance piece.
Objective: Students will be able to describe
several basic elements of African music through a PowerPoint presentation and
by singing an African inspired song, Dansi Na Kuimba.
Procedure:
§ Discuss the African music students heard. Locate continent on world map.
§ Students will view PowerPoint presentation on African music & culture. They will be instructed to take notes on rhythm, instruments, and culture.
§ Presentation includes clips from websites such as www.dancedrummer.com (performance videos, virtual instrument playing) and www.risottodirk.de/the_virtual_djembe/index.htm (virtual djembe).
§ Select several students to demonstrate and experiment with the virtual instruments.
§ Pass out music for Dansi Na Kuimba and sing/play through for students.
§ Teach the English portion of the song through echo method.
§ Teach the Swahili phrases through echo method-speaking to singing. Discuss meaning of words.
§ Sing through first verse and refrain of song.
Closure: Students will describe the instruments and rhythms in African music. Discuss how the song Dansi Na Kuimba relates to the traditional music we heard.
Assessment: Students will list three characteristics of African
music from the PowerPoint presentation.
Extensions: A) Students will complete a webquest on African music and culture. They will be assigned a specific region and will find specific criteria dealing with instruments, songs, and culture. B) Dansi Na Kuimba will be performed with the addition of African instruments.