1. The Music of Africa

2. The purpose of music in Africa
Music is used for many things such as…
Rituals and Ceremonies
Work songs
Story Telling
Communication
Fun!

3. African Style Music is taught orally Call and response (let’s try it!)
Layered patterns (polyrhythm) e.x 3 against 2
Syncopation: notes on unexpected beats
Buzzy or raspy tone quality

4. Instruments of Africa
Let’s read through the list in the packet of African instruments
Do you recognize some of these instruments?
Are there instruments that we have that look similar?
Now let’s watch some documentaries about the music of Africa and see if we can identify some of the native instruments and also learn some other things along the way.

5. African Musical Instruments
Write down five things you learned about African instruments in this video

6. Music is South Africa
Between 1948 and 1991, South Africa was a nation of diverse people, however a strict series of laws and regulations – called apartheid - kept whites in positions of power, while black South Africans were denied voting rights, political activism, education, freedom of movement and association.
Music played an important role in uniting Africans and the world against apartheid and inspiring hope that it could and would be overcome.

7. Africa and the Mbira

8. What did you see?
What did you hear?
Answer :Who, What, Where, When, and Why
Compare and Contrast: How was the Mbira music different than the drum music?

9. Think about this:
What makes African music unique?
Why do African people play music?
Who plays the music?
What instruments are played?