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Year 10 - Music

Introduction to West African percussive music

North Indian Classical music and West African drumming

Unit Summary

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Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe some of the key features of West African percussive music and can play a cross rhythm.

Key Notes

  • West Africa has a long history of music and dance. Many Western styles can trace their roots back to this region.
  • While the music is extremely varied, many traditional styles have similar features and instrumentation.
  • Most traditional styles in the region use percussion instruments, including djembe, agogo bell, dunun and shekere.
  • Polyrhythm and cross rhythms are common features across various traditions.
  • Most of these traditions combine music and dance together.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Djembe: A djembe is a common type of hand drum used in many West African traditions.
  • Agogo bell: An agogo bell is a metal instrument consisting of two pitched bells. It is played with a stick.
  • Dunun: A dunun is a large two-headed drum played with a stick. Often a bell is also attached.
  • Polyrhythm: When multiple rhythms are played at the same time we call this a polyrhythm.
  • Cross rhythm: A cross rhythm is a polyrhythm in which two or more of the rhythms 'conflict' and feel like they have a different pulse.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • A cross rhythm is when two players play in different time signatures.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

West Africa has a long history of music and dance. Many Western styles can trace their roots back to this region. While the music is extremely varied, many traditional styles have similar features and instrumentation.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Djembe'

A djembe is a common type of hand drum used in many West African traditions.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: A cross rhythm is when two players play in different time signatures. Correction: A cross rhythm only sounds like there are different time signatures at the same time, but in reality they both use the same time signature (but sound otherwise).

More Lessons In This Unit

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