Introduction to West African percussive music
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe some of the key features of West African percussive music and can play a cross rhythm.
Key learning points
- West Africa has a long history of music and dance. Many Western styles can trace their roots back to this region.
- While the music is extremely varied, many traditional styles have similar features and instrumentation.
- Most traditional styles in the region use percussion instruments, including djembe, agogo bell, dunun and shekere.
- Polyrhythm and cross rhythms are common features across various traditions.
- Most of these traditions combine music and dance together.
Keywords
Djembe - A djembe is a common type of hand drum used in many West African traditions.
Agogo bell - An agogo bell is a metal instrument consisting of two pitched bells. It is played with a stick.
Dunun - A dunun is a large two-headed drum played with a stick. Often a bell is also attached.
Polyrhythm - When multiple rhythms are played at the same time we call this a polyrhythm.
Cross rhythm - A cross rhythm is a polyrhythm in which two or more of the rhythms 'conflict' and feel like they have a different pulse.
Common misconception
A cross rhythm is when two players play in different time signatures.
A cross rhythm only sounds like there are different time signatures at the same time, but in reality they both use the same time signature (but sound otherwise).
Teacher tip
For Task C, for pupils who would benefit from additional challenge consider encouraging them to play the rhythms faster and slower, as well as to try playing both rhythms themself simultaneously. Pupils could also try harder cross rhythms - 5-4 is a particularly challenging one.
Equipment
DAW and/or set of hand drums and percussion instruments
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which order of sections is correct for North Indian classical music?
Q2.Which section involved tabla and sitar players playing in a virtuosic style?
Q3.In which two sections would you not hear a fixed melody?
Q4.What does the tanpura play throughout all sections?
Q5.What do we call a rhythmic cycle played on the tabla?
Q6.Name a specific tala.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is a hand drum, common in West African music?
Q2.Which of these is a two-headed West African drum played with a stick?
Q3.An bell is a metal instrument that can produce two different pitches.
Q4.What do we call it when more than one rhythm is played at the same time?
Q5.Which of these statements is true? Cross rhythm vs polyrhythm
Q6.Which two of these are common cross rhythms in West African percussive music?
To help you plan your 10 music lesson on: Introduction to West African percussive music, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 music lesson on: Introduction to West African percussive music, 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 4 music lessons from the North Indian Classical music and West African drumming unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.