Grade 5 Lesson 28
StartMelodic Direction (high-middle-low), BeatThemes(s):
Africa, Our Musical World
Extra Details:
Themes
Rhythm
Tone Set
Grades
Song Type
Chord Symbols
Chords
Learning Module Category
Introduction
In this lesson, you will:
- Play Poison Rhythm
- Play syncopated rhythms
- Teach “Funga Alafia”
- Learn about the song “Funga Alafia”
- Learn the dance for “Funga Alafia”
- Dance and sing along with “Funga Alafia”
- Use instruments or found sounds to accompany “Funga Alafia”
- Sort the rhythms for “Funga Alafia”
- Write a rhythm composition with ti ta ti using note squares
- Optional: Transfer the rhythm composition with ti ta ti to the rhythm composition tool
- Option 1: Play “Funga Alafia” on Boomwhackers
- Option 2: Play “Funga Alafia” on Ukuleles
- Option 3: Play “Funga Alafia” on the Recorder
- Option 4: Play “Funga Alafia” on drums
- Option 5: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Funga Alafia”
- Play rhythm racer
Extensions
Musicplay is a menu. The teacher is not expected to teach every song or activity. Choose the songs and activities from the list that will best fit your schedule and the needs of your students.
Objectives
- I can sing and move to music
- I can read rhythm patterns and melodies
- I can play instruments with a song
- I can create rhythms on body percussion, found sounds or instruments
Teaching Procedures
Play Poison Rhythm
Copy LinkEcho all the rhythms except the poison rhythm.
Play syncopated rhythms
Copy Link- play the rhythms with body percussion or instruments
- decide how to perform it
Teach “Funga Alafia”
Copy LinkThis is an excellent reading song and provides opportunities to move and accompany with rhythm instruments.
Learn about the song “Funga Alafia”
Copy LinkThe melody of "Funga Alafia" is based on the song "Liza Jane." The words have been attributed to LaRocque Bey who played drums with Baba Olatunji. A performance of the song and the dance by Baba in 1993 is found on YouTube.
The rhythm known as "Fanga" is from the Vai people of Liberia, West Africa. The words "Alafia" and "ashe" are from the Yoruba people of Nigeria. “Alafia” is a greeting word. “Ashe” means “so be it.”Jos Wuytak taught this song in many teacher trainings, including one in 1980 in Vancouver. He taught the simplified version of the Fanga dance and the interpretations of the meaning that is shared in Musicplay.
Learn the dance for “Funga Alafia”
Copy LinkLearn the movements.
The first time you: step-close step-close step-close step-clap, then go the other way
The second time: push arms right 2x, left 2x, (continue)
The third time: tap head 4x, touch sides of mouth 4x, touch heart 4x, make prayer motion 4x
The fourth time: step-close step-close step-close step-clap, then go the other way
The third time is supposed to show that 1: with my thoughts I welcome you; 2. with your words I welcome you. 3. with my love I welcome you. 4. with my prayers I welcome you.
Dance and sing along with “Funga Alafia”
Copy LinkUse instruments or found sounds to accompany "Funga Alafia"
Copy Link- if you have the instruments in the score, play them
- if you do not have instruments, use found sounds - desk, ruler, markers, to play the parts
- read each part together using rhythm names, then play it.
- when confident with the part, have one group sing (say) the song, and the other group play.
- continue learning the parts until you have learned as many as you can
- the audio track is included in the activity.
Sort the rhythms for “Funga Alafia”
Copy LinkWrite a rhythm composition with ti ta ti using note squares
Copy Link- copy the pages of note squares from the supporting resources
- have the students cut out the note squares (12 in total). The last 2 squares (ti ta ti) should not be cut apart - they should be left intact to show that all together the rhythms are 2 beats
- have the students create an 8 beat rhythm composition with the squares
- Transfer the rhythm you create to non-pitched percussion instruments. Use the song Funga Alafia as a "A" section, and use the rhythm you created as a "B" section. Perform together as a class.
Optional: Transfer the rhythm composition with ti ta ti to the rhythm composition tool
Copy LinkTransfer onto the rhythm composition tool.
Decide how to play it. You could use body percussion, instruments or found sounds.
The class could create a rondo by singing (or listening) to "Funga Alafia" as the theme. Then the B, C, D sections would be student performances of their rhythm.
Option 1: Play “Funga Alafia” on Boomwhackers
Copy LinkOption 2: Play “Funga Alafia” on Ukuleles
Copy LinkIf you have ukuleles, accompany your singing.
You can leave out the G chord and just accompany with the C chord, so it's easy to play.
Skip this step if you don't have a ukulele.
Option 3: Play “Funga Alafia” on the Recorder
Copy LinkOption 4: Play “Funga Alafia” on drums
Copy LinkClick on the link below this step's title to go to the full list of resources with Djembe Dan.
Option 5: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Funga Alafia”
Copy LinkCreative Ideas: Set the barred instruments up in C pentatonic. Invite the students to improvise or create a four bar melody to play between repetitions of the song. You could also invite your unpitched percussion players to improvise for four bars between repetitions of the song.