Embedded Files
Goals
Goals
- Experience Sō Percussion’s performance of “Music for Pieces of Wood” written by Steve Reich.
- Deepen the experience through reflection, music making and art-making.
- Explore the theme of rhythm and minimalism.
Scroll down for a video and corresponding activities. You can replay the link for reference as you experience the activities below.
Scroll down for a video and corresponding activities. You can replay the link for reference as you experience the activities below.
Video
Video
In this video, Sō Percussion plays Steve Reich’s composition “Music for Pieces of Wood”. The performance is recorded at Makeville Studio, a woodworking shop in Brooklyn.
In this video, Sō Percussion plays Steve Reich’s composition “Music for Pieces of Wood”. The performance is recorded at Makeville Studio, a woodworking shop in Brooklyn.
The piece was written in 1973, and is played with 5 pieces of wood.
The piece was written in 1973, and is played with 5 pieces of wood.
Something to know:
Something to know:
Steve Reich is an American composer known for his contribution to the development of minimal music in the mid to late 1960s.
Steve Reich is an American composer known for his contribution to the development of minimal music in the mid to late 1960s.
Sō Percussion is a percussion-based music organization that creates and presents new collaborative works to adventurous and curious audiences and educational initiatives to engaged students, while providing meaningful service to its communities, in order to exemplify the power of music to unite people and forge deep social bonds.
Sō Percussion is a percussion-based music organization that creates and presents new collaborative works to adventurous and curious audiences and educational initiatives to engaged students, while providing meaningful service to its communities, in order to exemplify the power of music to unite people and forge deep social bonds.
“The Sō in Sō Percussion comes from 奏, the second character in the compound Japanese word 演奏 (ensou), to perform music. By itself, sō means “to play an instrument.” But it can also mean “to be successful,” “to determine a direction and move forward,” and “to present to the gods or ruler.” – Jenise Treuting
“The Sō in Sō Percussion comes from 奏, the second character in the compound Japanese word 演奏 (ensou), to perform music. By itself, sō means “to play an instrument.” But it can also mean “to be successful,” “to determine a direction and move forward,” and “to present to the gods or ruler.” – Jenise Treuting
Something to listen for:
Something to listen for:
The piece establishes a set rhythmic pattern. Each player proceeds to take turns playing a shifting rhythm over the set pattern, creating complex rhythmic variations.
The piece establishes a set rhythmic pattern. Each player proceeds to take turns playing a shifting rhythm over the set pattern, creating complex rhythmic variations.
Warm Up
Warm Up
Photo Credit: Kevin Yatarola
- Listen to the music
- Take a deep breath in for two counts and out for two counts.
- Take a deep breath in for four counts and out for four counts.
- Choose a movement to pair with your breath as you inhale, and another movement to pair with your breath as you exhale.
- Continue this pattern for several times.
- Continue to move your body to the music in any ways you like.
Reflection / Discussion
Reflection / Discussion
1. What do you notice about the ensemble?
1. What do you notice about the ensemble?
- What did you notice about their instruments?
- How do they interact with each other?
- What do you notice about their expressions?
2. What did you notice about the music?
2. What did you notice about the music?
- How would you describe the music?
- How does the music make you feel?
- What rhythms do you notice?
- What images does the music make you think of?
- Have you ever heard music like this before?
Music-Making
Music-Making
Steve Reich, the composer, states that the composition “grows out of a desire to make music with the simplest possible instruments.”
Steve Reich, the composer, states that the composition “grows out of a desire to make music with the simplest possible instruments.”
Keeping this concept in mind, let’s create our own music with simple instruments made out of objects found at home.
Keeping this concept in mind, let’s create our own music with simple instruments made out of objects found at home.
Activity Video
Activity Video
This video will take you through the extension activity below with a facilitator. You can choose to watch the video and do the activity along with it. Or, you can read the activity and participate by scrolling down.
This video will take you through the extension activity below with a facilitator. You can choose to watch the video and do the activity along with it. Or, you can read the activity and participate by scrolling down.
Find the following items:
Find the following items:
1. Something that produces a low tone
1. Something that produces a low tone
(like a box, tupperware, or a pillow)
(like a box, tupperware, or a pillow)
2. Two wooden sticks
2. Two wooden sticks
(such as pencils, or wooden kitchen utensils)
(such as pencils, or wooden kitchen utensils)
3. Something that produces a high tone
3. Something that produces a high tone
(like a pan, a metal bottle, any piece of metal)
(like a pan, a metal bottle, any piece of metal)
4. Something that shakes
4. Something that shakes
(like a box of rice or cereal, a jar of non-essential vitamins, salt and pepper shakers)
(like a box of rice or cereal, a jar of non-essential vitamins, salt and pepper shakers)
Create your rhythms:
Create your rhythms:
Make a rhythm with each item.
Make a rhythm with each item.
Here are the rhythms I created...
Here are the rhythms I created...
Tapping a pillow with a wooden spoon:
Tapping a pillow with a wooden spoon:
Bop bop...bop. Bop bop...bop. Bop bop.
Bop bop...bop. Bop bop...bop. Bop bop.
Using two wooden spoons:
Using two wooden spoons:
Tap...tap tap, tap tap. Tap...tap tap, tap tap.
Tap...tap tap, tap tap. Tap...tap tap, tap tap.
Tapping a wooden spoon on a metal pan:
Tapping a wooden spoon on a metal pan:
Bang..bang bang. Bang...bang bang. Bang...bang bang.
Bang..bang bang. Bang...bang bang. Bang...bang bang.
Shaking a bottle of vitamins:
Shaking a bottle of vitamins:
Rattle, rattle, rattle rattle.
Rattle, rattle, rattle rattle.
Combine your rhythms:
Combine your rhythms:
- Follow along or experiment with different rhythms.
- Play together with a partner to overlay rhythms and sounds.
- Add some singing and rhythmic vocals.
- Enjoy the music!
Art Making
Art Making
Using the same concept of creating music with the simplest instruments possible, let’s create some art.
Using the same concept of creating music with the simplest instruments possible, let’s create some art.
Supplies:
Supplies:
Paper and a writing utensil
Paper and a writing utensil
1. Draw four different shaped rhythmic lines on a piece of paper.
Listen to the music once again for inspiration.
1. Draw four different shaped rhythmic lines on a piece of paper.
Listen to the music once again for inspiration.
2. How is each line different from one another?
2. How is each line different from one another?
3. How are they the same?
3. How are they the same?
4. How do they complement each other?
4. How do they complement each other?
5. What does each rhythm represent?
5. What does each rhythm represent?
You can write or draw it next to each line.
You can write or draw it next to each line.
In my example, I used:
In my example, I used:
- Horizontal lines, triangles, and circled in a repeated pattern to show “Balance”
- A series of scribbles to show “Vibration”
- A series of vertical lines from small to large to show “Growth”
- A wavy line to show “Peace”
Explore More
Explore More
Extension Questions:
Extension Questions:
- Where else do you hear rhythm in your home?
- Where do you hear rhythm outside?
- Where do you feel rhythm in your body?
- What other non-music activities involve rhythm?
Additional Links:
Additional Links:
- To learn more about Sō Percussion, click here.
- To learn more about Steve Reich click here.
- To watch more videos from Lincoln Center at Home clips, click here.
Share:
Share:
Tell us what you think! Email us at access@lincolncenter.org to share your thoughts on the activities and website.
Tell us what you think! Email us at access@lincolncenter.org to share your thoughts on the activities and website.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse