Open Discussion About Section 2

Juba

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:24:36 PDT

by Anna.

I am always on the hunt for hand clapping games and I have a new favorite.

Juba

Juba this and Juba that

Juba chased a yellow cat

An get over double trouble juba

The hand clapping involves holding your right hand over your left knee and clapping down up down with your left then reversing left over right down up down with right hand so you get a three feel. Then you sing the Juba song which has a four feel over it.

I had been playing this with my son because it seemed like a cool thing to do and then just today I got inspired to take it over to the drum and drum it.

I handed my son a cowbell and had him sing the song and beat a steady beat with the song. Then we took the song a way and he was able to beat the 4 patten against the other very three-ish rhythm. Holy moly. Of course thats what the game is about and it works!!!! Its quite miraculous to me especially since my son is not a great master at holding a steady pulse.

If you work with kids and teach rhythm you have to try this game. A good description of it is in the book "Step it Down".

http://books.google.com/books?ct=result&q=step+it+down

And Sweet Honey in the Rock sing a rocking version of the song on their kids album "All for Freedom"

Zurna and Duali

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 08:53:00 PDT

by William.

Charlie Keil speculates that the zurna (double-reed woodwind) and duali (bass drum) are the most important instruments in the world. Here's three rather different clips based on them.

Here's an "Aussie-Indian-Turkish Street Party" -- how's that for polyglot authenticity?

It's labeled "Zonguldaklilar Dügünü." Looks like a swanky wedding reception to me. Watch the little boy as he's transfixed by the music.

Here's a real melange for you: "Kurdish Disco Dance - Kürtçe Disko Halay." The zurna wails, and the visuals are most vigorously groovologically interesting.

An exercise for the reader: Where's the authenticity?

I feel good

Wed, 06 Sep 2006 04:02:55 PDT

by William.

According to this press release, Finland's on the ball:

Music - the key to feeling good?

The Department of Psychology at the University of Helsinki is co-ordinating a wide-ranging EU-funded research project, Tuning the brain for music, or Braintuning, for short. The purpose of the project is to gain a deeper insight into the relationship between music, emotions and brain functions. The project has received EU funds totalling €2.5 million.

The Braintuning project aims to find out, among other things, why music has such a profound effect on our emotional life and how enjoying music and the emotions invoked by music are manifested in our brain functions. Another fascinating line of research focuses on how individual differences in musical preferences and emotions inspired by music can be explained. In addition to the structure of music, the emotions invoked by it are also influenced by the listener's personality and the listening environment.

Certain regularities in the links between music and emotions are well known. A fast tempo piece in a major key is often felt to be happy and glad by Western adults, but different ways of playing can produce interpretations conducive to different emotions. A particular piece, when played in a certain way may sound aggressive, while played in another way, it may sound calming.

The University of Helsinki will focus particularly on how permanent music emotions and preferences are and how much of them can be explained by cognitive brain functions. Answers to these questions are sought with the help of the latest methods in brain research, listening experiments as well as interview- and observation-based research methods.

The Braintuning project will last three years.
Source: University of Helsinki
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-09/uoh-m-t090506.php