HAPPY ARUBA NATIONAL ANTHEM AND FLAG DAY!
Welcome to the Joyful Noise Music Blog!
Today we are celebrating Aruba's National Anthem and Flag Day. Did you know that the island of Aruba is a part of the Dutch Caribbean? I showed music students a map of the Caribbean sea today, and we also took a look at what kind of wildlife is a part of Aruba both on land and sea (take a look at the awesome scuba diving video below!). We also got a chance to hold and explore a plantain (a banana-like, starchy fruit that is a popular Caribbean food staple). You can read more about the plantain here! Even our infants and toddlers explored the plantain, pictures and related instruments.
Of course, our focus was also on popular Arubian music, some of which is of the Curacao variety. Today we explored "Tumba", named for the large tumba conga drum, also called the tumbadora. We watched a video with a more traditional tumba band (see the video below--it includes the use of the cheese grater-like rhythm instrument, the "wiri") and also danced and listened to a more modern, dance-style tumba while we played instruments! There is a very cute short video of some of our students below.
All in all, it was a very educational day! Make sure to ask your child some of the questions below!
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD TODAY:
1. What country did you learn about today? ARUBA
2. What does a plantain look like? A BANANA
3. (For 3 and up) What is it called when land is surrounded by water on all sides? What types of animals like to live near Aruba? IT'S AN ISLAND! ANIMALS LIKE TROPICAL FISH, PINK FLAMINGOS AND SEA TURTLES LIVE NEAR ARUBA! (Also, extra credit: many snakes, many tropical flowers and insects, and birds!)