World Beat Music - Tapas Series
REVIEW by Polly Hemming, Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary), La Trobe University, Bundoora.
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for Prep to year 2 |
for years 3 and 4. |
for years 5 and 6. |
World Beat Learning is a local company that produces teaching resources using world music. The World Beat Learning 'Tapas' series has been designed as a demonstration of the diversity of world music and can be used in both the integrated curriculum, as well as solely as a music resource. Made up of 6 teaching kits, the series covers infants to year 10, however only the three sets covering P-6 are reviewed here. Each kit is comprised of a CD of world music recordings as well as an accompanying book of ten music appreciation lesson plans. Each lesson and piece of music can be used as a stand-alone activity (with the exception of the last two lessons, which are always set aside for revision purposes and often combine several pieces of music). The lessons are very well organised, and can be easily understood and interpreted regardless of musical talent or background. Each book also includes information about how the resources can be used to fit into the Victorian Curriculum and Standards Framework as well as a brief biography of each of the artists.
The music in the Tapas series is interesting, if not unusual, and, not having been created specifically for children is not patronising like some children's music can be. The activities are intended to encourage both the appreciation of the structural and cultural diversity of music, as well as active involvement in the creation of music. Students are encouraged to explore rhythm and harmony and experiment with singing as well as playing instruments. The lessons allow for times when students need to burn off energy as well as times when they need to be quiet. They also encourage improvisation and open expression by the students. Most importantly, the lessons appear to be a lot of fun.
'Sweet and Simple' for Prep to year 2 features music from China, Macedonia, Paraguay and the Ukraine. The activities are very simple, but encourage movement (such as galloping like a horse), listening, exploring emotion in music and distinguishing between different types of music.
'Salto!' for years 3 and 4 features Celtic music, as well as music from Mexico, The Andes and South Africa. These lessons (as you would hope them to be) are more complex than the 'Sweet and Simple' set. The lessons introduce the formal way of reading and writing music and the formal terms for beats and rhythms (such as the concept of 'ostinato'). However, like the previous set, the lessons encourage movement and openly getting enjoyment from the music
'Beat the Heat' for years 5 and 6 features music from Mozambique, Rajasthan, Kurdistan and Latin America. Its most noticeable feature is that is reviews the musical information in the previous set and adds to it (students are asked to identify notes within the music). Comprehension is also a big part of these lessons. One of the songs is about a Kurdish political prisoner and students are asked to write down what they think the song is about prior to hearing this information.
This series is an excellent teaching resource. It puts music into a global and cultural context for students. The series also ensures that all students are actively involved. What is particularly commendable about the 'Tapas' series is that students are involved on an equal level - no student performs on their own on the basis of their strengths. It is important to mention again that the lessons in the 'Tapas' series are both engaging and entertaining - an worthy notion to foster in music lessons given that that is the whole purpose of music.
