This week in Exploring Music 6, our world percussion unit started off with a bang!
Last Friday we talked about the drums that we would be using during our percussion unit. We learned about the parts of the drums and about different types of drumming such as open tone and closed tone drumming. On Monday, we were able to begin learning our first song called "Ensemble 1". We talked about what the word "ensemble" means. We decided to think of it as a musical team where each musician's part is important (much like a sports team!). We learned about a new instrument called the acousti-block on Monday, too. Ask your student why this instrument is different than a cow bell!
Tuesday we worked with another new instrument called a shekere. (Ask your 6th grade musician how to pounce this tricky instrument!) We learned how these instruments were made (can you guess what vegetable is used to make this instrument?) and then had the opportunity to play the shekere in our "Ensemble 1" song. Check out a picture of a shekere below! We were greeted by a fun video featuring our two new instruments at beginning of class. Click HERE to watch that video
Last Friday we talked about the drums that we would be using during our percussion unit. We learned about the parts of the drums and about different types of drumming such as open tone and closed tone drumming. On Monday, we were able to begin learning our first song called "Ensemble 1". We talked about what the word "ensemble" means. We decided to think of it as a musical team where each musician's part is important (much like a sports team!). We learned about a new instrument called the acousti-block on Monday, too. Ask your student why this instrument is different than a cow bell!
Tuesday we worked with another new instrument called a shekere. (Ask your 6th grade musician how to pounce this tricky instrument!) We learned how these instruments were made (can you guess what vegetable is used to make this instrument?) and then had the opportunity to play the shekere in our "Ensemble 1" song. Check out a picture of a shekere below! We were greeted by a fun video featuring our two new instruments at beginning of class. Click HERE to watch that video
The rest of the week flew by as there is no school tomorrow (Friday). We added one final instrument on to our "Ensemble 1" song on Wednesday. This instrument is called a gankogui. This is a special bell that symbolizes a parent and a child. We then broke into small groups where we had one player on a part for our song. We practiced using non-verbal cues while playing to all stay together. This was tricky, but with some practice both Exploring Music 6 classes got it! Check out some pictures of us in action below!
Have a wonderful vacation!
Ms. Barkin
Have a wonderful vacation!
Ms. Barkin