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Description
Experience the infectious, hip-shaking rhythms of Zouk, Soca and Reggae! Join us on a Caribbean cruise to Martinique, Barbados, Haiti and Jamaica. This happy, upbeat CD will keep you moving with the mix of sounds and instruments of the Caribbean.
The Caribbean is home to a string of tourism-friendly island nations and some of the world’s most amazing music. Along with lush vegetation, sugar-sand beaches, and spicy food, each island is defined by its local sound, which remains fairly consistent whether the lyrics deal with partying, courtship, or social protest. This set is devoted to dance-oriented Haitian compas, Jamaican reggae, zouk from the French Antilles, and Trinidadian calypso’s faster and more rhythmically intense descendant, soca (from SOul-CAlypso).
Cultural notes
- Bongos are drums made from wood and animal skins. These drums were first used in La Plena and are still currently used in many form of Musíca Latina.
- A buleador is a large drum used in La Bomba made of wood and animal skin.
- Cájones are boxes that Cubans used to sit on and create rhythms. In the past they used various objects and surfaces that can be found in the household that was available.
- Claves and palitos are a pair of short pieces of wood struck to produce a clicking rhythm.
- Congos are a longer form of bongos and are also made from wood and animal skin. These drums are still currently used in many form of Latin music, such as la plena, rumba, salsa, and mambo.
- The cuarto was adapted by the six-stringed guitar brought to the Caribbean by the Spaniards during colonization. The cuarto was used in La Plena and is still currently used in many form of Musíca Latina.
- A güiro is a gourd, a hollow, dried shell of a fruit, carved with ridges. It is usually played a stick that is stroked up and down the carved side.
- Two drums mounted on a stand. The shells are usually made from some kind of metal. Above the drums, a Timbalero, one who plays the Timbales, will have one or two cowbells and a wood block. Timbales are played with two sticks.
- Panderetas are short drums that resemble what is now known as tamberines. These were used in La Plena
- Panderos are small frame drums, and were very diverse in terms of its usage.
Suggested activities
Music and Movement
- Borrow a range of instruments used in Caribbean music, such as the guiro, claves and bongo. Provide these instruments for the children to experiment with while they listen to the songs on this CD.
- Old MacDonald Had a Band – This version is sung to the tune of the original, except instead of animals, he has instruments. Divide your class into groups with each one playing a different instrument (.i.e. tambourines, sticks, drums, triangles, etc.)
- If You’re Happy and You Know It – Replace body movements with instruments. (i. e. play your drum, tap your sticks, shake your maraca, etc.)
- Include a basket of movement props such as scarves, ribbons and feathers
- Set up a listening station with CD’s from different cultures and encourage children to play along with the songs
Art & Craft:
- Create your own instruments or ‘Junk Orchestra’ using loose parts and recycled items.
External Links
Related items in our catalogue
Instruments
- Borrow from our diverse range of guiros
- drum
- claves
- cowbell
- agogo bells
- Cabasa
The research for this resource was made possible through a grant from the Central Coast Council.