Music of Four Continents: A Trans-Atlantic Experience

This workshop takes a birds-eye view of the traditional and popular musics of Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the USA. By tracing four hundred years of intersecting musical folkways of four continents, participants will more intensely appreciate the historical and contemporary dynamics which have shaped today's global expressive culture. Participants will have the opportunity to sing and drum traditional music of Africa, play Appalachian Mountain folk music, experience music of selected African-American folkways, perform choice dance rhythms from Latin America, and build simple musical instruments based on intercultural inspirations.

The Rhythms of Latin America

Groups learn to drum and sing music characteristic to Brazilian and various Afro-Caribbean cultures. The samba of Brazil, mambo of Cuba, and calypso of Trinidad are taught using authentic instruments. Other Latin music and dance forms are discussed and understood within their geographical and historical contexts. Rhythm charts, resources, and extension activities will be shared.

African Music and Drumming

Participants will learn some traditional and contemporary ensemble pieces from Africa. Playing recreational music of Ghana involves drumming, singing and movement; singing choral music from South Africa provides insight into that country's social challenges; studying the music and instruments of Kenya and Zimbabwe explores traditions that reach far back into African history. Listening to contemporary African music reveals insight into African sensibility of today and its influence on American and world music.

Instrument Making Workshop

Building simple instruments from natural or recycled materials involves music, science, ecology, math, and art. Individuals make projects including instruments such as the "bleach bottle banjo", "hosepipe recorder", "coffee can drum", "mailing tube rainstick", "scrap wood xylophone", and "bobbie-pin thumb piano." Instruments really work, sound good, and can be combined for ensemble playing. See "Instrument Workshop" page at this website for more information.

More involved instruments such as the Celtic Harp (see photo at top of page), Appalachian Dulcimer, Banjo, Four String Guitar also available. See "Waring Harp" page on this website for more information.

American Folk Music

Musical folk traditions are found in various regional repositories throughout the United States. One of the most pervasive is that of the Appalachian Mountain region. Learning to play the lap dulcimer, banjo, fiddle, and jew's harp, and singing traditional hymns, play party songs, and other old time vocal music is fun and revealing. Intertwined with this is music from African American folkways including, work songs, gospel music, jug bands, and the blues. Participation in simple traditional group dances round out this rousing workshop.

Composing World Music In the Classroom

Today's technology and media have made the world's music accessible to everybody. By careful listening we can learn to make our own world music. Using basic techniques such as drone, ostinato, pentatonic scales, simple polyrhythmic grooves, and basic musical instruments, groups learn how to create original music. Combining some of the procedures of the Orff and Kodaly methodologies with common composing and arranging techniques, students learn the process of creating, as well as playing, music.