Our music appreciation classes start in a circle. Everyone participates. We introduce each other by playing the drum name game. Each student gets their name chanted to a beat. Sometimes we will sing the “Hola Amigos Song” where each students’ name is incorporated into the song.
After that we all play a new rhythm together. Half of the class plays hand drums and the other half plays percussion instruments like shakers and bells. The rhythms are from the PanAfrican diaspora: the Caribbean, South America, Central America, Central Africa and West Africa. We play until everyone has gotten a chance to play a hand drum.
Then we stand up to stretch our bodies gently. Afterwards we take a seat and meditate to an ocean drum, chimes or other relaxing percussion. Then we play a music game. Finally, we say our good byes with the “Adios Amigos Song”.