THE GUIRO!
This month in music class, we are learning all about the wonderful Latin-American percussion instrument, the guiro!
Traditionally made from hollowed out gourds with carved ridges, the guiro is played by rubbing a stick or "pua" across the grooves to produce an awesome sound that you may recognize from quite a bit of Latin-inspired music, such as bossa nova (one of my absolute favorites!)
Check out this neat video that shows you some of the cool sounds a guiro can make:
To experience this instrument, we took a look at many different guiros--some made of wood, some shaped like a frog, some made of plastic, and even one large makeshift guiro from a coffee can! The kids got to practice making music with them, and we also sang "La Cucaracha" in Spanish and English while using the guiro.
Everyone enjoyed the neat, vibratory grooves of this rhythm instrument today. Check out the pictures, videos and extender questions below!
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD
1. What is a guiro?
2. How do you play a guiro?
3. Does a guiro feel bumpy or smooth?