Characteristics of traditional Aboriginal Music
Think how and why Aboriginal Music is unique.
What will you learn?
the musical features of traditional Aboriginal Music.
Syllabus outcomes
4.7 A student demonstrates an understanding of musical concepts through listening, observing, responding, discriminating, analysing, discussing and recording ideas.
4.8 A student demonstrates an understanding of musical concepts through aural identification and discussion of the features of a range of repertoire.
What do you already know about Aboriginal Music?
Use the KWLH chart below to write down what you know already know about Aboriginal Music. Take this time to think about:
what you already know
what you would like to know
what you have previously learned
how you might learn more.
Upload your completed KWLH chart to your school's digital learning platform for your teacher.
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Listening activity
Listen to the following examples of traditional Aboriginal Music.
As you listen, consider the musical characteristics below and create a tally for each time you hear that characteristic in the examples. You may like to use an online counter to keep your tally.
Reflect on the tally for each musical characteristic.
Create a list of the top scoring musical characteristics for each Concept of Music from your tally and write them in a post on your school's digital learning platform.
Characteristics
Pitch
descending melody
chant-like singing
repeated vocal melody
Duration
repeated rhythmic patterns
changing rhythms
Tone colour
didgeridoo
clapping sticks
male voices
female voices
Texture
solo voice
several voices
Offline access
Download and print this document to send to students with limited access to online resources.
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References
Music 7-10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2003.
Gapu by Yothu Yindi (00:02:43) date accessed 08/09/2020
Aboriginal Chants (Male Chanting Version) (00:00:32) date accessed 08/09/2020
Traditional Didgeridoo Rhythms by Lewis Burns (00:03:29) date accessed 08/09/2020
Aboriginal dance show - Australia (00:07:21) date accessed 08/09/2020
KWLH chart, NSW Department of Education, date accessed 12/07/2021
Tally counter, date accessed 12/07/2021