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Basic 2 · Creative Arts · Planning, Making and Composing

Composing Music and Dance

In this topic you will compose your own songs, rhythms and dance using instruments.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Make a rhythm pattern
  • Compose a call-and-response song
  • Add movements to your song

What you already know

  • Music and dance from other communities

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Performing Arts
Sub-strand
Planning, Making and Composing
Indicator
B2.2.2.2.1 – Compose own artworks using available performing arts instruments resources and methods

Introduction

In many Ghanaian songs, a leader sings a line and the group answers. This is called call and response.

1. Rhythm Patterns

A rhythm pattern is a group of beats that repeats.

A simple rhythm
Beat1234
drumboomrestboomboom
shakerchkchkchkchk

2. Call and Response

A call-and-response song
Leader (call)Group (response)
"Who keeps our school clean?""We do! We do!"
"Who plants the trees?""We do! We do!"
A leader singing and a group answering with drums
Figure 1: Call and response Write your own call-and-response lines.Illustration: Sirbus

3. Adding Movement

  • Clap on the response.
  • Step forward on beat 1.
  • Turn at the end of the song.

New words

compose
To make up new music or dance.
rhythm pattern
A group of beats that repeats.
call and response
A leader sings; the group answers.
rest
A beat with no sound.

Summary

  • A rhythm pattern repeats.
  • In call and response, a leader calls and the group answers.
  • We add movements to make a performance.

Class activity: Compose Our Song

  1. Make up two call-and-response lines.
  2. Choose a rhythm on the drum and shaker.
  3. Add three movements and perform it.

You need: Locally made drum, Gourd shaker, Printed photographs of Ghanaian, African performances

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Who sings first in call and response?

    • A. The leader
    • B. The audience
    • C. Nobody
    • D. The drummer only
    Show answer
    Answer: The leaderThe leader calls first.

  2. 2. A beat with no sound is called a…

    • A. Rest
    • B. Call
    • C. Clap
    • D. Song
    Show answer
    Answer: RestRests are silent beats.

  3. 3. A rhythm pattern repeats.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueIt is repeated.

  4. 4. To compose means to copy exactly.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseTo compose means to make up something new.

  5. 5. When the group answers the leader, it is the ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: responseCall and response.

  6. 6. Write one call and one response for a song about water.

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. "Who saves water?" – "We do! We do!"The group answers the leader.

Homework

  1. Teach your song to a family member.