1. African Music of
West Africa

2. Africa is
a land of
many
countries,
climates,
and
cultures.

3. It is a place of modern cities . . .

4. . . . and traditional villages.

5. Music is an integral part
of every African
individual from birth.
www.acslink.aone.net.au/christo/histmain.htm

6. Ghana in West Africa

7. In traditional
African societies,
Music is every
Where and used
to heal the sick,
praise a leader,
ensure successful
delivery of a child, cure bed wetting,
stop a woman from flirting
Involved with birth, naming of a child, teething,
marriage, new moon, death, puberty, agriculture,
reenacting of historical events, hunting,
preparation for war, victory celebrations and
religious rites.

8. In some African societies music is a
dynamic and driving force that
animates the life of the entire
community. www.acslink.aone.net.au/christo/histmain.htm

9. Ceremonial/Ritual
Crowning a new
king
Weddings
Birth
Funerals
Puberty
Just about any
major milestone in
a person’s life

10. Purposes
Social/Recreational Ceremonial
Music and dance that is spontaneous Music and dance done to
and full of improvisation recognize the occasion;
Can vary each time it is
performed
Artistic Ritual
Music and dance that has a Music and dance that has to be
choreographer who has done the same way each time
decided what to do and when; it is performed
Performed on stage

11. Entertainment
Songs are sung about all aspects
of life – planting, hunting,
weather, birth, death – just
about anything.

12. Some African
societies have
professional
musicians, called
griots. Griots
are responsible
for “recording”
tribal histories
and genealogies.
Unfortunately,
griots are not
always given
respect.

13. Ensemble drumming
is practiced
throughout West
Africa. Drum
ensembles play for
social occaisions,
ritual, ceremonies,
weddings, funerals,
parties, and
religious meetings.
Other instruments often join the drums to accompany
singing and dancing. Drumming, singing, and dancing are
often performed in a circular formation going
counterclockwise. Drums are also used in artistic
performances.
http://www.sbgmusic.com/html/teacher/reference/cultures/westafr.html

14. Drum ensembles are
often led by a master
drummer who plays solos
against the overlapping
patterns. The master
drummer also leads the
ensemble by playing
signals that tell the
other players to switch
to a different section,
change drum patterns,
change the tempo, signal
the dancer, or end the
piece.
http://www.sbgmusic.com/html/teacher/reference/cultures/westafr.html
Master Drummer Yaya Diallo
www.onzou.com

15. Drums are among the most important
art forms in Africa, used both as a
musical instrument and as a work of
sculpture significant in many
ceremonial functions, including dance,
rituals, story-telling and
communication of messages.
http://www.hamillgallery.com/YORUBA/YorubaDrums/YorubaDrum02.html

16. In West Africa, the music has great
rhythmic vitality, making use of
polyrhythms, or several rhythms
played simultaneously.

17. Instruments
African instruments can be divided
into three
categories:
idiophones,
chordo-
phones,
membrano-
phones.

18. Idiophones
Idiophones are self-sounding instruments,
such as the balaphon, mbira, and rattle.

19. The balaphon is also known as the
marimba. It has wooden bars and
gourd resonators. It looks like a
xylophone.
Each ethnic
group has
it’s own
shape of
balafon.

20. The mbira,
also known
as the
thumb piano,
is made with
flattened
metal bars
and played
with the
thumbs.

21. The shekere (aka
the axatse) is made
by tying a net of
beads around a
gourd. Shakers can
also be made by
weaving baskets to
hold pebbles
or seeds.

22. Chordophones
Chordophones are stringed instruments,
such as the mouth bow and kora.

23. The mouth bow is a stringed instrument
that uses the mouth as a resonator.

24. The kora is the precursor
to our banjo. It is made
with a large gourd
covered with animal skin.

25. Membranophone
Membranophones
create sound by
stretching a
membrane over
an opening. The
kora might be
classified as a
membranophone,
but the most
obvious
membranophone
is the drum.

26. The djembe is
probably the most
familiar African
drum in America.
Djembe patterns
are mostly made up
of three tones,
pa (the slap), go
(the tone), and gun
(the bass).

27. The talking drums are
based on the tonal
quality of many native
African languages. The
drum is held under the
arm. When the drum is
squeezed, the
drumhead tightens and
the pitch goes up.
When the pressure is
released, the pitch
goes down.

28. Characteristics of African Music
Melodies- short, mostly pentatonic scales,
one syllable per note
Beat-strong beat, pulsating
Tempo-steady, polyrhythms, syncopation,
repeated rhythmic patterns
Form-game songs, work songs, call-
response
Timbre-open, relaxed,
Instruments-percussion, stringed, wind

29. Children Learn Many Singing
Game Songs
Words in songs refer to percussive clapping
that accompany the song
Tue Tue
Kye, Key Kule

30. Lesson
Tue Tue 1-3 grades
Learn geographical characteristics of Africa
and Ghana
Sing Tue Tue
Add a rattle and body percussion
Learn musical characteristics of African
music-strong beat, pentatonic melody

31. Directions
Listen to song
Singing repetition of phrases
Clap to “feel” the beat
Accompany with shekere – rattle
Add body percussion in pairs
clap hands on beats 1&2,
hands on thighs beats 3&4, repeat
Change partners, repeat
Original partners, repeat

32. Pitch of Tue Tue
On staff, write out pentatonic pitch
Play on xylophone and sing along

33. Assessment
Perform Tue Tue with correct pitch and
rhythem
Write out
State characteristics of African music –
strong beat, pentatonic scale, shekere rattle

34. Kye, Kye Kule
Short melodic phrase
Fove-tone pentatonic scale
Syncopation
Call-and –response form
Shekere and other rattles
dance/game song
Words refer to various parts of the body

35. American-Jazz Music
Obj: “scat”
Instruments: saxophone, piano, bass, drums,
guitar
Types of Jazz: swing, ragtime, Latin,
bebop, boogie woogie

36. Characteristics of Jazz
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana
Roots song by African slaves brought to
Southern plantations while in working
fields
Jazz is a conversations with saxophone
makes a musical statement and drums, bass,
and piano answer back.
Improvisation – happens on the spot
Energetic, happy, moody, wild, or quiet
You want to snap your fingers and tap your

37. Jazzing Up Mary Had a Little
Lamb
Sing the traditional tune
Listen to “Little Lamb Jazz”
What do you notice about the words?
What parts are same raise hand when
heard?
What parts are different raise hand when
heard?
How do new words enhance or change
feeling of the song?

38. Your turn to Jam
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Improvisation: “Scat” make up your own
version on the spot
Form: scat
Rhythm: change
Dynamics: change
Texture:
Tone:
Melody:

39. Exploring Multiculturalism in
Music
China
Japan
Russia
Greek
Spanish
Ireland
American Indian, Folk & Country,
Bluegrass, Mexican Spiritual, Blues,

40. Musical Characteristics to Teach
Melody-type of scales
Rhythm-meter and beat
Texture-lines of music
Dynamics-soft or loud
Tone Color-played by different instruments
Form-song/dance, ex: ABA

42. American-Bluegrass Music
Obj.: listen to and analyze music for theme
and instruments used
The Arkansas Traveler
Instruments: fiddle, banjo, guitar
Movement to music-Square Dancing

43. All lessons should include:
Materials: maps, pictures, songs, CDs,
DVDs, customs, props, wall displays
Map of Country
Characteristics of County
Characteristics of Music (all 6)
Instruments used
Objectives
Procedure-song to play, sing, dance to
Assessment