COURSE OUTLINE

Through demonstrating and playing of several instruments and musical styles, the educational program, Music & Percussion From Around the World, coupled with audience participation, emphasizes how music can serve as a universal form of communication and act as a method for improving self-awareness and self-confidence in the individual. This program will be a catalyst for bringing on an evolved state of mental awareness. Participants will develop their own personal sense of commitment and responsibility to themselves and the world (unity). The course will combine two different learning techniques to encourage and reach the objectives. The first being a "guided principle" technique, which is based literally on the showing and telling of (how it is, and how it goes), and the second being a "self-oriented principle" technique, based on the intrinsic properties and powers of learning to teach the self (metacognition).

The course gives an inside look into the music/drumming rhythmic styles, history, customs and geography of Africa, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Egypt India, Iran, Ireland, the Balkans and America. The classes are designed to emphasize and develop the skills of self-awareness and self-confidence in the student. Through "ensemble" and "solo" experiences, students will learn the essential skills of teamwork, sharing, cooperating, communicating and taking turns. This interactive and exciting program gives the students added knowledge of themselves and the world.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Through audio, visual (live/recorded performances) and "hands-on" participation using authentic instruments and movement (dance), participants learn and experience several different cultures. Students learn how to play instruments, vocalize and use body movements as a foundation for understanding, creating and notating their own musical compositions and traditional music compositions.

Students will:

- discover concepts and elements that comprise music (vibration, pitch, rhythm, etc.) through participation, practice and performance.

- learn about the production, organization and creation of dialogue amongst the ensemble through mnemonic and visual response through cueing and signaling.

- learn the families of musical instruments (string, woodwind, brass and percussion).

- learn what percussion instruments and different percussion techniques are through body movement and mind/body coordination (dance steps).

- learn how to create their own percussion instruments.

- learn the importance of providing space for creative expression for all members of the class and equal appreciation of all class members and their creations.

- build self-confidence in decision making situations.

- learn the instrinsic relationship between music and daily life.

- ponder the concept, "Why are percussion instruments considered to be one of the first types of communicative musical instruments invented by man?"

- develop an understanding of the connections between music, math, (counting) and spoken language with its strong, inherent rhythmical and musical properties utilizing reading, writing and improvising rhythms.

- increase awareness of world cultures, geography and understanding the musical ancestry of the earth.

- associate America with these various regions of the world.

- relate folk instruments to their country of origin in a geographical, socio-cultural and artistic manner.

- identify their ancestral heritage both socio-culturally and geographically.

- develop an awareness of the intra and interpersonal values needed in a musical ensemble.

- demonstrate how different cultures create specific rhythms geared to the demands of their societies and the environments (Mother Nature) from which they come.

The following ideas are all inclusive in that they contain the areas that can be demonstrated and discussed through, "Music & Percussion From Around The World." All of these areas or just a few areas can be covered in these sessions. There are many factors which determine what will be covered such as the age and inherent abilities of the participants, mental and physical capacity of their minds and bodies, and racial ignorance and tolerance. Individualized programs are designed with administrators so that a suitable (balanced) and harmonious blend of world information is given. Teachers usually know their students best and are able to recommend areas of both interest and ignorance.

(Please email plunkett@World-Beats.com for further information or telephone (818) 569-5465)

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