The Kingdom of Benin

This half-term our focus is Music.

We have been learning:

• To know how to evaluate pieces of music using the interrelated dimensions of music.
• To listen to music from, and inspired by, Africa.
• To know the correct posture and technique for playing a Djembe drum.
• To know how to compose a rhythm based on Djembe music.
• To know how to use basic musical notation to read and compose a rhythm.

Our African Drumming workshop.

We learned:

• Where djembe drums come from and what they are made from.
• The importance of music, singing and dancing in West Africa culture.
• How to play a bass tone and open tone on the djembe drum.
• How to play a call and response.
• How to reply to the lead drummer.
• How to sing an African chant and to follow the beat with a dance.
• How to build texture into a performance.