Teaching East Asian Music in the Elementary Classroom

Lesson Plans from 2005 Workshop

“Arirang -- A Traditional Song from Korea”
(Fourth Grade, two 30 minute class periods.)

Teacher: Karen Nystrom

Objective:

Students to learn a Korean culture folksong and accompanying drum pattern.

Materials:

World map showing Korea
Photos of Korea
Arirang CD (2 versions)
drums

Procedure:

1.) Listen to Arirang on CD Traditional Songs of Singing Cultures. First verse is in Korean, second verse in English (sung by unaccompanied male voice).

2.) Locate Korea on the map. Discuss the division of North and South Korea. The song Arirang is pervasive throughout Korea and has many versions. It has the feel of a triple meter and uses the pitches of the pentatonic scale. Arirang is often referred to as an idyllic place in the colorful and flower-filled hills. Examine photographs of Korea to discover the very real existence of hills and mountains

3.) Teach students the words for one verse in English and one in Korean.

4.) Teach drum pattern (from p'ungmul workshop session) then have 4 students play it with the recording.

5.) When students are able to perform the song and drum pattern together, sing the song as a canon, the second group to entering one measure after the first group. If this is difficult for student, let the recording be “group one” and the class “group two”.

6.) Listen to another recording of song (from workshop CD). Compare to recording of Arirang (ornamented female voices with accompaniment, many more verses in Korean). Can the drum part be added to this version? (yes)

7.) Add the drum part to this longer recording.

Resources:

Campbell, Patricia S., Traditional Songs of Singing Cultures: A World Sampler , New York , Warner Bros., 1996

Musical examples from Korea and Japan , from East Asian Music Workshop.

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