Year 8

How can drums be used for communication?

Year 8

How can drums be used for communication?

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will explore the various untuned percussion instruments of West Africa. We will then be introduced to texture and polyrhythms and will have the opportunity to perform 3:4 and 3:2 polyrhythms.

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5 Questions

Q1.
What is syncopation?
Syncopation is a traditional West African percussion instrument
Syncopation is where you play on the down (strong, on) beats only
Correct answer: Syncopation is where you play on the weak (off) beats
Q2.
What is improvisation?
Is where you can use other musicians' improvisations as your own
It is a strict musical technique with rules that must be followed
Correct answer: It is free; there are no right or wrong musical responses
Q3.
Which of the following is NOT an improvisation technique covered in the lesson?
Accenting different beats
Adding or removing a beat
Call and response with family and friends
Correct answer: Playing a song you already know backwards
Q4.
Where else might you hear a stop signal?
Correct answer: At the end of the call and response section
At the start of the improvisation section
Half way through the call and response section
Q5.
What is an accent?
A note played quieter than other notes in the bar
A really short note
Correct answer: An emphasized note

4 Questions

Q1.
The Sabar is a Senegalese drum that is played at many celebration events. Which of the following is not an event mentioned in the video?
Baptism
Full moon
Correct answer: Funeral
Wedding
Q2.
How does the size of a drum influence its pitch?
Size does not affect the pitch of a drum.
The bigger the drum, the higher the pitch.
Correct answer: The smaller the drum, the higher the pitch.
Q3.
Polyphonic texture describes
A texture based on chords that accompanies a distinct melody line.
A texture consisting of a solo musical line.
Correct answer: Two or more melodies or parts that play at the same time, weaving in and out of each other.
Q4.
A polyrhythm is
A texture only used in West African music.
When two or more chords are played at the same time.
Correct answer: When two or more rhythms with different pulses are heard together.