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:

ß Discuss the African music students heard. Locate continent on world map.

ß Students will view PowerPoint presentation on African music & culture. They will be instructed to take notes on rhythm, instruments, and culture.

ß 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).

ß Select several students to demonstrate and experiment with the virtual instruments.

ß Pass out music for Dansi Na Kuimba and sing/play through for students.

ß Teach the English portion of the song through echo method.

ß Teach the Swahili phrases through echo method-speaking to singing. Discuss meaning of words.

ß 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.