Shakin' It Up!
Ever think about how music and sound actually "work"?
- Air conducts waves that we call sound, when nerves of our inner ears receive them.
- Shorter (faster) waves sound higher.
- Longer (slower) waves sound lower.
- The materials from which instruments are made vibrate differently also, creating waves of different qualities and giving them their distinctive "voices."
- Hard materials sound one way; soft ones another.
- Thick materials sound differently than thin ones.
- Flexible materials sound different than stiff ones.
- Wet materials sound different than dry ones.
- Metal, wood, plastic, paper, rock . . . all sound different.
Can you tell what something is just by listening? Close your eyes and try!
Putting It All Together
Now that you know something more about sounds, try your hand at making these Latin American instruments. Follow directions on the links below.
Dry Rain . . . Wet Rain
Play a duet with a rainy night. Listen closely for a few minutes. Now, try to match the rhythm and intensity of your playing with the rain outside.
Coffee Can Drum—You Can Drum
This drum sounds a lot like Afro/Cuban conga drums or Carribean steel drums. Try using a larger container like one from laundry detergent, or an old wastebasket. All you have to do is turn the can upside down and start drumming with your hands or sticks. Try covering one end of your stick with a wadded up sock or rag to make a different sound.
Maracas from the Garden
Maracas were first used in religious celebrations by a Native Indian tribe of Puerto Rico called the Tainos. Maracas were originally made from a dried gourd with dry beans inside. They are played in pairs and often one maraca is pitched high and one is pitched low. The tone is changed by putting more beans or seeds in one gourd than the other.