Round the World

Multicultural Music Workshop

Countries covered: Africa, India, China, Australia as main section, then a huge choice all  dependant on session time.

What goes on?

Below are some examples of activities that can be covered in this workshop – content depends on class age and length of session

Typically we start with a vibrant drumming demonstration with movement/warm up whilst exploring and reacting to tempo and volume all in the spirit of play. Also relaxes & warms the children to us, (Makes us less like strangers) aiding the teaching process. Through questions we would then learn about the drums just heard and have a kid’s demo!

Sound science - examples

 African thumb pianos are played with and without their gourd resonators to show why virtually all instruments and drums need hollow bodies to amplify their sound. – then linked to other instruments on view.

We show very basic instruments from bow and arrow onwards (mouth bow to south american berimbau to african kora/harp) to show common ancestry of string instruments worldwide, including those already familiar to the children.

Talking drums teach about pitch and drum technology, communication with sound, and the sophistication of so-called ”primitive” culture’s musical language/instruments. Pitch related to length, thickness, size etc.

All teaching is done with humour and enthusiasm to keep the children’s attention.

DRUMS!

We have a 15-min drum session – everyone plays a full size floor standing hand drum. This is THE favourite part! The children get to be noisy and express themselves through a fun but controlled experience, through rhythm games – great physical/mental co-ordination experience. Our drum sessions teach respect of both the instruments and the teaching situation (teacher-pupil relationship) plus just how naturally fulfilling and exhilarating the act of creating rhythm can be.

We alternate between listening and active sections and we try to be aware of when a change is needed (every group has different attention spans!)

We usually finish with quiet instruments such as Tibetan singing bowls, ocean drums and hangs (amazing, new Swiss instrument based on steel pan technology) and/or, if it suits, a dance out of the hall back to class accompanied by a last drum rhythm!

We have an impressive collection of world instruments – much more than we could show in an hour’s workshop.

Other examples of commonly shown favourites: Australian didgeridoos and bullroarers, giant African balafon (xylophone),

All done intuitively at a level suited to the group’s age and abilities.

We try to teach by questions (sometimes in a play quiz) leading children to their own answers

We promise:

No over-the-head jargon!

No long-winded monologues!