Multicultural music workshops for schools

Around the World Music Workshop

Our main & most popular music workshop!

Captivating & interactive classes featuring a small museums’s worth of unique instruments, dance & song primarily from AFRICA, INDIA, CHINA, & AUSTRALIA with other countries as options. Includes rhythm games session with full size drums for ALL.

Featuring:

AFRICAN- Djembe, Bougarabou drums, Bolon (harp), Log drums,Shona Mbira, Bala (xylophone), Shekere, Kora (harp), Gongoma (giant thumb piano) DarabukaINDIAN- Sitar, Swarmandal, Tanpura, Harmonium, Dhol drum, Chimptas, Bansuri (bamboo flute)CHINESE- Cheung (harp), FluteAUSTRALIAN- Yidaki (didgeridoo), Bull roarer

We usually carry and display more, what we show depends on time given for session!

Sessions are customisable – we can often match instruments to countries being studied in projects etc

Dance

African animal dance for early years, African traditional dance for older,. Indian Classical, Chinese Fan dance

Hands-on sessions:

Kids African Band

Kids Indian Band

plus a little dash of simple sound science!

Max no. 60

Ideal time: 1 1/2 hr

This workshop suits all ages as we change format / delivery for each

Many Instruments

Darabuka, Req, Sagat, Djembe, Bougarabou, Djundjuns, Ngoma (medicine drum), Bala (xylophone), Kora (harp), Mbira (thumb piano), Bolon (bass harp), Gourd Water-Drum, Gongoma (giant thumb piano), Talking Drum, Fula/Tambin flute, Gandira, Rattles, Gourd shakers and Moth-Cocoon ankle shakers!

Early Years World Music Workshop

A special playful version of our well loved ‘round the world music workshop made for the little ones!

Lots of music making, both quiet and LOUD! dances, songs, interaction and a heaped spoonful of fun and laughter!

A non-stop music party!

Instruments and Activities

Exploring soft and loud, fast and slow music with clapping, shakers and movement

AFRICAN- animal DANCE to Djembe & Bougarabou drums,

We act out a traditional African village scene to a sunny story song supported by Kora (harp)

EUROPE – Welsh Harp with songs

NATIVE AMERICAN ­ – Flute & Drum with Eagle song and DANCE

AUSTRALIAN – Yidaki (didgeridoo),

Comments from nursery schools

“Earthsong actively engages young children by taking them on a musical journey involving instruments, voice, puppets, and movement”

“wonderful experience for the children”

 “pitched to their level of development”

“It enables the children to express themselves creatively, develop confidence, and a sense of rhythm and balance”

“enables them to play real drums and hear a range of instruments”

“a unique learning experience for our children”

“Earthsong are able to make connections with our special needs children through music in a very unique way”

“Music is essential for child development, memory and the brain!  It helps children who may struggle with communication or who are very quiet to find another voice and express themselves through a new and different way!”

“A particularly shy child really came to life and thoroughly enjoyed a drumming session, even finding the confidence to play the conductor! This was a turning point in her settling in to nursery beautifully”

“(children) talk about the day for a long time afterwards”

AFRICA Music Workshop

Our African workshops bring rhythm, dance, song, culture and fun!

Together we explore the story of different instruments from across the African Continent.

This is a popular workshop for Black history month, African World heritage day (5th May) and supports history, geography and African art projects.

Areas covered

• North (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, etc)
• South (Zimbabwe, S Africa),
• East (Kenya & Uganda) and
• West (Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Guinea, etc. – especially Manding Culture)

Many Instruments

Darabuka, Req, Sagat, Djembe, Bougarabou, Djundjuns, Ngoma (medicine drum), Bala (xylophone), Kora (harp), Mbira (thumb piano), Bolon (bass harp), Gourd Water-Drum, Gongoma (giant thumb piano), Talking Drum, Fula/Tambin flute, Gandira, Rattles, Gourd shakers and Moth-Cocoon ankle shakers!

HAWAII & POLYNESIA  Music Workshop

In this music workshop we journey to the warm pacific islands of Polynesia.

Our first stop, beautiful Hawaii, Aloha!! Where we’ll be welcomed with Lei (flower garlands), and tell stories with our bodies of swaying palm trees, swimming turtles, and sweet smelling flowers in Hula dances.

We’ll play on traditional Hawaiian musical instruments, Pu ee bamboo clackers, Uli uli feather and coconut shakers, Ipu – gourd drum and big log drums.

We’ll also be serenaded by the more modern and very popular Ukelele and learn of it’s history.

When exploring Hawaiian folklore, we can also learn of ‘Pele’ the angry goddess of the volcano!

Then we’ll travel to other Polynesian islands, New Zealand, for both warring and peaceful hakas, Tahiti and the Cook islands, for more dance and the Soloman islands for a vibrant call and response canoe song.

Many Instruments

Twirling Poi to share, Log drums, Ipu (gourd drums), feather rattles, Ukeleles, Bamboo clackers, Derua (thumping tubes), authentic bark skirts, flower garlands, Conch shell, Hano (Hawaiian nose flute), Pū‘ohe (bamboo trumpet)

INDIA Music Workshop

India is often described as a country of extremes, and especially so when regarding the senses. In this music workshop we experience colour, noise, and sound textures through interaction with the instruments and dance of India, both North and South.

From vibrant collective drumming and raucous, spinning bangra dance, to sparkling, majestic, stilling drones of the Indian band, when teachers are often surprised at the tangible calm in the hall, created by the children.

Many Instruments

Drums and Percussion: Tabla, Dholak, Mridingham, Dhol, Kanjira, Mardel, Nagara, Ghatam,

Strings: Sitar, Tanpura, Gopichand, Swarmandel, Indian violin, Ektara, Sarangi, Esraj, Veena, Sarod,

Wind: Harmonium, Shruti box, Bansuri (bamboo flute), Been (snake charmers flute)



Also Nepali folk and Buddhist temple instruments including

Tibetan Singing Bowls, Damaru drums, Bells, Ritual Drums, Horns, & Conch Shell

JAPAN Music Workshop

There can never be too much Taiko drumming! This workshop has a rotating drumming game that children love and then it’s back to calm with our string instruments, harp and fans.

An energetic workshop for performances to parents and peers.

The thunderous fun of of Taiko drums. With the ingredients of Team work, martial arts, dance and mental focus, Taiko do (the way of drumming) offers a great way for children to experience those cultural Japanese aspects, and we can do this through our special fun Taiko games and performable pieces.

Children see and then eagerly aspire to be like the trained disciplined drummers of Japan.

Fan dancing to the sound of the Koto (harp) and shakuhachi (bamboo flute) gives us an elegant way to then step towards to a more zen like peace!

Instruments

Drums & percussion: Giant O DAIKO , SHIME DAIKO, naga daiko, Kane. Hyoshigi.

Strings: KOTO (harp)

Sanshin (lute)

SHAKUHACHI (bamboo flute)

Costumes: genuine traditional costumes (happi coats, kimono)

Features powerful TAIKO drumming games with GIANT DRUMS! (everyone gets a go!)

Taiko performance piece for older children

Folk & Fan DANCES, Bon dancing, brolley and fan dances

AMAZING AMERICAS Music Workshop

This workshop offers a hands-on journey from America’s north, making mountain music in Appalachia, trying traditional First Nation (Native American) music and dance, then heading south to sample Peruvian percussion and the sizzle of Brazil’s samba beats and Capoeira!

This can lead to a dynamic performance piece for parents when we have a class to work with for the day.

Instruments

First Nation drums and rattles, flutes, double flutes, Log drums, Giant Rainstick, Appalachian mouth bow and dulcimers, Musical Saw, Peruvian Cahon, Brazilian Berimbau and Samba drums and percussion.

China Music Workshop

Our Chinese workshop is like a self-contained mini festival! It’s a vibrant, colourful, extravaganza. From stomping Lion dances and swirling Dragon dances with drumming, to spiraling red ribbons and spinning brollies, to graceful fan dances serenaded by gentle harp.

Perfect for Chinese New year projects or celebrations.

Many Instruments

Chinese Drums, Bells, Bowls, Cymbals, Gongs, Fish Blocks, Xiao & DiTzi Flutes, Jaw Harp Er-Hu (fiddle), Gu Cheung (harp), Yang Qin (hammered dulcimer)

AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND Music Workshops

We go on walkabout to explore the music of the Original People of Australia, commonly known as the aboriginals, especially the extraordinary Yidaki and plastic didgeridoos for all to play. Then it’s war and peace (Haka dances) with the Maoris of New Zealand.

Many Instruments

Yidaki & Didgeridoos to share, Bullroarers, Bilma (Clapsticks), Log drums, Gum Leaf, Gourd drums, Rattles, Shakers