THE DIDGERIDOO!
Have you seen a didgeridoo? It's an interesting instrument that is native to Australia and used in New Zealand as well as all over the world (but the original word for the instrument is "yidaki").
This week we learned about Matakiri Festival in New Zealand--the beginning of the "Maori" (indigenous people of N.Z) new year! The festival occurs when the Matakiri cluster of stars is just right in the sky (occurring in mid-June this year). Beginning on June 18th, 2015, people from New Zealand began their celebration which includes themes of letting go of the past, embracing the future, fireworks, traditional song and dance.
The didgeridoo is used in Maori and Aboriginal music and culture. The instrument, which is traditionally made from long strips of hollowed bamboo, makes an interesting low vibration. Check out a video here: Jeremy Donovan, Aboriginal Artist.
In it's natural environment, the bamboo was sometimes naturally hollowed by termite insects, which prompted local indigenous people to experiment with the instrument's creation!
Didgeridoo's are often decorated with Aboriginal and Maori dot and tribal art, which the children enjoyed emulating on worksheets! Everyone decorated their own didgeridoo with interesting patterns and colors using markers.
The kids had a blast watching me play the didgeridoo and listening to it's interesting low vibrations. We also talked about the technique of circular breathing--where a musician breathes through their nose and out their mouth at the same time...producing continuous sound! We gave that a shot and BOY--is it ever hard!
Check out the extender questions and pictures below of our fun experience learning all about these awesome cultures and their native music.
See you next week!
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD
1. What is the name of the instrument you learned about in music class this week? Didgeridoo
2. What kind of paint decorations did the didgeridoo have? Dot art
3. What kind of insects like to eat the wood that didgeridoos are made of? Termites!