One Week Program For Elementary Drumming Unit

Project & Objective
- All drums supplied, so that each student has a hands on experience of playing a traditional West African “Djembe”
-Origin of the drums used with geography explanation of types of drums and the areas in Africa from which they come. A visual sample of different kinds of drums is brought to the class.
-Teach the concept of an oral tradition and the use of language “if you can say it you can play it”, introduce the “Drum Alphabet” with the introduction of Bass Tones and Open Tones and their associated African words. Description of the correct physical technique for each of the tones and the correct sitting position.
-Talk about “call and answer” the whole village making the music. (With older kids we discuss the five basic ways of rhythmic expression.)
-Introduction of call and answer; with bass tones and then open tone; as a musical styling.
-First letters of the alphabet; Gun do; so that the creation of rhythm can be started.
-First Rhythm - Gun Do Gun Do
-Introduction of musical breaks
-Introduction of polyrhythms ie. Playing break with simple patterns

Expected Results
-Each student will have a greater understanding of music in the world and the instruments that are used to create that music
- Basic tone, technique, drums language and polyrhythm capabilities.
-Use of call and response as a musical styling and application of musical breaks to call change in a rhythm.
-This weeklong residency ends with a sharing/performance so that the entire school and the children's parents can see and hear the music that has been created.