Teaching East Asian Music in the Elementary Classroom

Lesson Plans from 2005 Workshop

“SHI WU (The Lion Dance I & II"
(Third Grade, 30 minutes)

Teacher: Jeni Schellenberg

Concept:

Rhythm, playing in a percussion ensemble

Objective:

Students will be able to play (eighth 2 sixteenths) rhythm on the drum while playing in an ensemble.

Materials:

map of China
the Lion's Roar book and CD
pictures of instruments
chart of Mnemonic chant syllables
poster board of “Shi Wu I & II”

Procedure:

Teacher plays track 4 of CD, “Shi Wu I and II in AABBAA form,” and asks students to guess what country the percussion piece is from when it is finished; China
Show a map of China
This percussion piece is called “Shi Wu.” Shi (shih) = lion and wu (woo) = dance.
The Chinese respect the lion as their guardian and as a symbol of protection. However, there are no lions in China, so the love of lions must have come from visits to neighboring countries in Central Asia.
The lion dance is performed at many celebrations throughout the year in Chinese culture, the New Year's celebration being one of them. Two dancers are dressed in the ornate lion costume. They move, showing off its big head, bulging eyes and clack the wooden teeth to the rhythm of the accompanying percussion music.
The percussion ensemble is called “Luogu.” This literally means “gongs and drums.” Luo = gongs; gu = drums. These are the two most important instruments in the group; however, cymbals, bells and woodblocks are also a part of the ensemble.
Show pictures (transparency) of percussion instruments of Luogu Ensemble.
Teach the mnemonic syllables for “Shi Wu I.”

Symbol Instrument Sound

K = Large Gong <CHAHNG>
D = Large drum <DONG>
d = rim (of drum) <DAH>
Read the syllables individually with the entire class; read the syllables slowly, as
they appear in the mnemonic chant on the poster board.
Play the instruments slowly to the chant on the poster board.

End of lesson 1.

Next class period

Review Lion Dance I and rotate to allow everyone a chance on an instrument. - Teach Lion Dance II.
Tell class there is Western notation for the sounds they have played; K DD. Eighth-note, 2 sixteenths.
Show rhythm to class and have them pat legs; show rhythm in a 4 beat pattern and have them read with (1 and a) numbers. Have each dance notated and everyone reads it together.
-Play on instruments.

Another class period I would teach putting the dancers with the drumming ensemble.

I plan to work with the art teacher on this project to make the lion heads and dragon heads and other decorations for the New Years celebration. I would like to perform this for the first and second graders.

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