3035 South Abingdon St.
Arlington, VA 22206
703-228-6650
Fax: 703-931-1804
Wednesday, May 22, 2013

African Drum

African Drumming (A.W.A.R.E.)
Mr. McDavitt - david_mcdavitt@apsva.us

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The Abingdon West African Rhythm Ensemble is an extra-curricular music class instructed & directed by teacher David McDavitt. A.W.A.R.E. studies the musical performance & cultural significance of traditional ensemble drum-voice-dance music from West Africa (as well as related styles from Haiti, Brazil, & Japan). The club is comprised of a dedicated team of talented 3rd, 4th, and 5th -graders. We meet MONDAYS after school.

Musical styles that we will study this year include:
GHANA: Kpanlogo [Ga], Atsia-Agbekor [Ewe], Adowa [ Ashanti], Sichyi [ Ashanti]; GUINEA: Limbadji Toko [Limbadji]; SENEGAL: Soma La (Mandinka); HAITI: Mahi; BRAZIL: Afoxe (Bahia); JAPAN: Nanafushi (taiko drums); INDIA: Dhimiki.

Research exploring the link between music and intelligence suggests that music training is superior to computer instruction in dramatically enhancing children’s abstract reasoning, logic, problem-solving, reading, and self-esteem: all skills crucial to Mathematics, Science, and Language Arts! Additionally, we are fostering our students’ “Musical Intelligences” in accordance with Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences, promoting pride, accomplishment, and real-world educational problem-solving & products.
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AFRICAN DRUM WEBSITES:

1. www.dancedrummer.com

Click on “Traditional Rhythms” (see video of Atsia played)

Click on “ Virtual Drum Museum” to play each drum

using your computer mouse

2. www.motherlandmusic.com
     Click on “Drums”, Find the “EWE DRUMS”, Click on the Information about each drum
 

3. www.bailesadw.com
      A local store that sells African drums
 
4.  http://www.globalvoices.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113&Itemid=116
            A wonderful resource for world drumming by Imani Gonzales (book/cd sets, and workshops)
 
5.  http://www.amazon.com/Drum-Play-Rhythms-Africa-Latin/dp/B0000037AK/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1304379158&sr=1-3
          Great resource for accurate African and Latin ensemble drumming by Geoff Johns (CD with transcriptions)
    


Last Modified on February 2, 2011