WEST AFRICAN MUSIC and NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC

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WEST AFRICAN MUSIC and NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC

• Similarities and Differences

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SIMILARITIES

• Rhythm is crucial to the music of both cultures.
• Percussion instruments play a predominant role in
  both West African Music and Native American
  Music.
• Music from both cultures is traditionally used
  for ceremonial purposes.

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DIFFERENCES

• WEST AFRICAN
• Uses thumb pianos
• Uses poly-rhythms and
• Syncopation

• NATIVE AMERICAN
• Depends heavily upon woodwind instruments
• Straight beat

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What is a Polyrhythm?

• When two or more distinct separate rhythms are
  going at the same time.
• http//www.hdp-ghana.com

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What is a thumb piano? And what is Syncopation?

• thumb piano noun any of various African boxlike
  musical instruments, such as the kalimba or
  mbira, having tuned strips of metal or wood that
  vibrate when played with the thumbs.
• In music, syncopation is the stressing of a
  normally unstressed beat in a bar or the failure
  to sound a tone on an accented beat.
• Syncopation is used on occasion in many musical
  styles, including classical music, but it is
  fundamental in such styles as ragtime and jazz.
  In the form of a back beat, syncopation is used
  in virtually all contemporary popular music.

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Try the following links to find out more about
Thumb Pianos and Africa!

• http//www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/aud_art/img/thumb
  .jpg
• http//www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/aud_art/htm/thumb
  .htm
• http//pbskids.org/africa/piano/haveflash.html

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What is a straight beat Native American rhythm?

• One steady beat at a time
• Like your heartbeat.

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Links where you can hear Native Music

• http//talkingtaco.com/petewyoming-drums.html

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Questions

• Compare traditional Native American music to
  traditional West African music in at least two
  ways.
• Contrast traditional West African music with
  traditional Native American music in at least two
  ways.