February 2024
We are starting a new unit. We'll be working on Harry Style's song 'Treat People with Kindness' leading up to Pink Shirt Day on February 28. Ukulele students are learning the chords (we add a Bb or A# to the known chords and a single strum technique). All will learn the boot scoot dance that is traditionally done by fans to the song in concert so we can boot scoot at the Pink Shirt Day Assembly!
February 5-9
February 12-16
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Cambodia
Traditional Folk Music (Khmer) (2:08) (Found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRgJOOT7scM) Here is some traditional folk music. We see a roneat, or bamboo xylophone as well as some traditional rhythm instruments like the samphor (barrel drum) and battambang (the curved set of drums the player sits inside).
Pin Peat Music (6:07) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIv7yqiyeeI) Here is the traditional court orchestral music. We see the same instruments as the last video and we also see the srar la, a quadruple reed oboe-like instrument. I also like that this video is taken at the famous Angkor Wat temple.
Kantrum Music-Ajai Waeng (2:13) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiAy62mBkCs) Originally coming from the Khmer Surin of Cambodia and used as a sort of 'healing music' particularly where actual medical help was scarce, this has become a popular music in Cambodia recently.
Vannda-Ambition (3:28) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0w4QiXRQP4) Vannda is a hip hop or rap artist from Cambodia who has found enough fame that he is apparently being brought to the U.S. to perform outside L.A. this year. He's noted for adding a particularly Cambodian style to his rap.
February 19-23 (Monday is Family Day, Tuesday is a NID)
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Samoa
Traditional Samoan Slit Drums (6:06) (edited from film found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psj-kHIrcvA) From wiki: Samoan wooden slit drums and variants have been used throughout Samoa for over a thousand years. There are many uses for these wooden drums, including calling village meetings, in times of war and peace, songs/chants and dance, and signalling long distances in inter-island naval warfare. In recent times they are used predominantly for calling chiefly and royal ceremonies as well as contemporary religious practices.
Richard Parker-Ua Mativa lo'u Alofa (5:26) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VJSrSC-B88&list=RDQMHPabwqirk3s&start_radio=1). I found many of the popular Samoan artists work and live in New Zealand or Australia. From wiki: 'Born and raised in Fugalei, Samoa, Richard Parker came from a musical background, nephew of musicians Dave and John Parker. Parker started thirty years ago in Melbourne, Australia in a reggae band, then branched off into a solo career.'
Pacific Soul-Afai e Te Alofa (2:22) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB1lmRGa_RM) Pacific Soul is a noted Samoan pop group. This is one of their noted hits in Samoa.
Pati Mai-Shakhouse Finest(5:24) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thg9beQOGdY&list=PLXXgEFvNaITUb90aXde1Y3kBay4tnRzzy&index=6) American style rap and hip and pop music have been popular in Samoa since World War Two brought American soldiers to the island. Here is a popular example in Samoan. 'Fai se mea aoga ole gei olaga ua faigaka' or 'Do something useful because life is hard'.
Manu Siva Tau (1:13) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXTrf3u3WPw) The Manu Siva Tau is quite like the haka of the Maori. I'm just posting this as I was intrigued by the Haka like moves in the Pati Mai video so did some reading!
February 26-March 1
Traditional Music-nifara flute (3:45) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avxnptUu0d0&list=PLlsUBXzvsqwIuOw8E8fh0m3regzd-J9AA) Here is some traditional Mauritanian music with the nifara flute.
Dimi Mint Abba (2:13) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19aTW5lIygc) from wiki: Dimi Mint Abba (Arabic: ديمي منت آبا; 25 December 1958 – June 2011)[1] was one of Mauritania's most famous musicians.[2][3] She was born Loula Bint Siddaty Ould Abba in Tidjikja in Mauritania. [4] 1958, into a low-caste ("iggawin") family specializing in the griot tradition.
Becaye Aw Trio-Sibi (5:22) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0R73ypGBMA) Becaye is a guitarist, singer and songwriter of the African Fulani (Haal Pulaar) people and was born in 1963 in Mauritania, living now in Oslo.