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- Year 8
Context and technique in West African drumming
I can describe the main techniques used on the djembe and dunduns, and their sonorities.
- Year 8
Context and technique in West African drumming
I can describe the main techniques used on the djembe and dunduns, and their sonorities.
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Lesson details
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.
To help you plan your year 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 year 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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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.
Equipment
Djembe and dunduns or hands or any high, medium and low pitched percussion.
Licence
Lesson video
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