Context and technique in West African drumming
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the main techniques used on the djembe and dunduns, and their sonorities.
Key learning points
- The sixteen countries that make up West Africa each have their own drumming traditions and styles.
- Common instruments used are djembe, apitua and dunduns, which consist of the kenkeni, sangban and dundunba.
- The djembe has three main sounds - bass, tone and slap.
- The call begins and ends a piece, brings in new parts and uses just tone.
- We have created a short rhythmic performance using typical techniques from the drumming traditions of West Africa.
Keywords
Djembe - a goblet-shaped hand drum originating in West Africa
Bass, tone and slap - the low, medium and high pitched strikes on the djembe
Dunduns - three bass drums (kenkeni, sangban and dundunba) that create an accompanying bass line for the djembe
Apitua - an iron bell playing a distinct rhythm alongside the dunduns
Common misconception
You must use the given rhythms.
The rhythms used are variations on traditional accompaniments that are passed down orally across generations. At this stage, any rhythm can be used as a starting point for getting pupils making music but this example covers the required techniques.
Teacher tip
While there is plenty of modelling on traditional drums, all of these tasks can be completed using the cupped hand, palm hand and clap technique to replicate the three different low, medium and high sounds respectively. This will be covered as part of the lessons.
Equipment
Djembe and dunduns or hands or any high, medium and low pitched percussion.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Is Africa a country or a continent?
Q2.What musical element refers to how fast or slow the music is?
Q3.What musical element refers to how loud or soft the music is?
Q4.What musical element refers to how high or low the music is?
Q5.What term is a constant beat that acts like the heartbeat of the music?
Q6.A piece of music with 4 beats in the bar would be counted in with beats
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these countries are located in West Africa?
Q2.What is the name of the goblet-shaped hand drum originating in West Africa?
Q3.How many different sounds does the Djembe make?
Q4.Which drum is used to create an accompanying bass rhythm in African drumming?
Q5.The iron bell that plays a distinct rhythm alongside the drums is known as the
Q6.Bass, tone and are the low, medium and high pitched strikes on the djembe.
To help you plan your 8 music lesson on: Context and technique in West African drumming, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 music lesson on: Context and technique in West African drumming, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 music lessons from the Djembe drumming and rhythms from the regions of West Africa unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.