Music of Native Americans

1. Music of Native Americans

2. Objectives • TLW use Native American songs to interrelate music, culture, and geography. • TLW perform music in 4/4 meter. • TLW follow choreographed loco motor movements with music. • TLW identify same and different sections in larger musical forms. • TLW move to show the form of the music.

3. Music of Native Americans Native American music consists of songs that have a purpose. Although Native American Pow Wows (large festive gatherings) are entertaining, the music was not originally considered entertainment. Native Americans sing to give thanks to their spirits for something good that has happened. They also sing ballads to remember great deeds, work songs, and lullabies (songs to relax children).

4. Native American music is not written down or composed. It comes to musicians through dreams. Each song is considered a gift from the spirits, and it belongs only to the person who received it in the dream. (Native American copy write.). When a song is sung, it must be performed without a mistake. If the singer makes a mistake, they must stop and then start over again at the beginning of the song.

5. Native American instruments include drums, rattles (shakers), and winds (flutes and whistles). The smallest drums are tom-toms or buffalo drums, which are handheld. They are made by tightly stretching a buffalo or deer hide across an open circle of wood. The largest drums are gathering drums. A gathering drum is made from a large section of tree trunk with the middle hollowed out and animal skin stretched across one or both sides. The largest gathering drums may be placed over pits in the ground to make them louder.

6. The most common rattles are dried gourds with small stones or other objects inside. Also turtle shells and other objects are often used for rattles. Some rattles contain corn, seeds, teeth or animal claws. Animal claws are also worn around hands and feet. • Winds are basically flutes and whistles. These flutes are often decorated with feathers and carved in the shape of animals.

8. Circle Dance • Form a circle with a large drum in the middle and several drummers. • Give rattles to the performers making the circle. • Spotlight on Music 3rd grade Disc 15 # 19-22.

9. I Walk In Beauty • He ne-ya-na he ya he ya na, • He ne-ya-na he ya hi yo he ya hi yo (repeat) • (circle left and then circle right on the repeat) • I yearn for beauty, yes I do, yes I do; (circle in) • I learn of beauty, yes I do, you know I do; (circle out) • I beam with beauty, just for you and only you; (circle in) • He ya he ya hi yo (circle out) • He ne-ya-na he ya he ya na, • He ne-ya-na he ya hi yo he ya hi yo (repeat) • (circle left and then circle right on the repeat)