World Drumming and Instrument Making Skills
Early childhood music teachers will learn how to use world drumming and instrument making as demonstrated in three chapters of the Roots of Rhythm (ROR) curriculum,a free,online teacher’s guide by Dr. Craig Woodson. In the first breakout session,attendees will make and play a simple ‘generic’can drum (African model),make a friction drum (a Portuguese adufe),then turn them both into the bongos (a drum set from Cuba). The session ends with a group performance of Middle Eastern rhythms using the bongos as the naqqara drums from Turkey. All activities are hands-on,engaging,age-appropriate lessons for young learners. (1.25 hours)
Monday Evening Drum Circle
Teachers will enjoy interactive group drumming as they play the five familes of percussion typically found in drum circles,including hand drums (djembes,congas),metals sounds (cowbell,gangokui),wood sounds (wood block,claves),shakers (chocallos,maracas),and bass drums (djundjun). Attendees will learn some of the basics of drum circle facilitation and get a chance to practice these new skills. Part of the session will introduce Health Rhythms on the physical and emotional benefits of this particular drumming protocol.
Using Our Drum Creations
In breakout session #2 teachers will learn how to use three new chapters from Dr. Woodson’s ROR curriculum. Teachers will play speech rhythms on an African talking drum (dondo) that they make during the session. Then they will convert this instrument into a Japanese drum (kakko) to play ancient and unusual rhythms that relate to that of a bouncing ball. To conclude,participants will make a very simple instrument (sajat) to play dance rhythms from Egypt. Each idea has immediate application in early childhood education. (1.25 hours)
General Session With Craig Woodson
Dr. Woodson will present his ‘World Orchestra You Can Build’program on making and playing twelve instruments from around the world. This entertaining presentation includes continuous audience participation and includes how music originated with animals sounds and food technology. To conclude,each audience member will make and play the five-in-one ‘Drumpet’,a combination drum,trumpet,scraper,bonker,and string instrument–a ‘composite’lesson that includes composition and conducting. (1.5 hours)