Year 8

How are signals used to define the structure in some West African music?

Year 8

How are signals used to define the structure in some West African music?

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will learn the 'unison response' section of the song "Kuku". We will perform start and stop signals as the master drummer before composing our own signals. We will finish the lesson with a call and response section.

Licence

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a rhythm?
Correct answer: A pattern of sounds of different lengths
A pattern of sounds of the same length
A regular, steady beat
Q2.
Which statement is not true?
The djembe is one of the most popular instruments from the West African music tradition
Correct answer: West African music is only played in West Africa
West African music varies from country to country
Q3.
Tone, bass and slap are all different strokes you play on a djembe. What is a flam?
Two strokes played almost simultaneously with an 'accent' on the first note
Correct answer: Two strokes played almost simultaneously with an 'accent' on the second note
Two strokes played at the same time
Q4.
What is the oral tradition ?
Correct answer: Music, art and stories are passed down by ear through generations
The name of a traditional djembe song
The sheet music used to learn songs from West Africa
Q5.
What is the role of the master drummer?
The player who gets the biggest drum
Correct answer: The player who leads the drum circle; this player plays the start/stop signal
The player who organises the group performances and arranges the music
Q6.
The start signal in 'Kuku' is
'Let's play djembe, let's play djembe'
Correct answer: 'Play the djembe and here we go'
'Play the djembe and shout Africa!'

5 Questions

Q1.
An ostinato is
A fast drum pattern
Correct answer: A repeated pattern or phrase
An improvised phrase that repeats
Q2.
The main functions of the start signal are
To make sure the audience knows who the master drummer is and to make sure everyone starts at the same time
Correct answer: To set the tempo and make sure everyone starts at the same time
To show the audience who the master drummer is
Q3.
When you hear the stop signal
You should prepare to play the 'unison response'
You should stop and wait to play the 'unison response'
Correct answer: You should stop playing straight away
Q4.
When composing a call and response section
The response should be complicated
Correct answer: The response should be short and simple
The response should be the same as the call
Q5.
When composing a star and stop signal
They should be improvised and should change each time
Correct answer: They should be similar with noticeably different endings
They should be the same rhythm