- Year 10
- OCR
Introduction to West African percussive music
I can describe some of the key features of West African percussive music and can play a cross rhythm.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 10
- OCR
Introduction to West African percussive music
I can describe some of the key features of West African percussive music and can play a cross rhythm.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
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Lesson details
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).
To help you plan your year 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 year 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.
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.
Equipment
DAW and/or set of hand drums and percussion instruments
Licence
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