Taj Mahal

School Radio > Music > Join in with Music

A contemplative piece inviting pupils to recreate some of the sounds of Indian music using classroom instruments.

The video

Taj Mahal

This calm, contemplative piece invites children to recreate some of the sounds and atmospheres of Indian music using classroom instruments.

The main elements, for which you might choose separate groups, are:

• Notes D and A played gently as a drone on sustaining instruments such as keyboards, melodica, violin, cello, and by humming along. Open fourth and fifth guitar strings can ring out with the drone too.
• A rising seven note tune on the Indian sitar, which is a long-necked string instrument. By finding notes beforehand (D, F#, E, G#, A, C#, D’) children can join in the tune on keyboards, glockenspiel, ukuleles, etc.
• Rhythm patterns on tabla (Indian hand drums), which pupils can join in with body percussion (eg patting knees) and also with bongos or similar hand drums.
• A falling tune on Indian flute using notes E’, D, C#, A, F# and E. Children can try whistling along with this (perhaps moving their hands higher and lower to show the shape of the tune), or finding some of the notes on xylophones, wooden flutes, penny-whistles or recorders.
• Quiet touches in time on finger cymbals, jingles, triangles and tambourines.
• Wiggly patterns using notes A, B, C#, D, and E. Children can improvise these on xylophone, glockenspiel, keyboards, ukulele, ocarina, etc.

The overall structure is like a conversation between the various elements and groups. You could practise a few times together so that children get to anticipate the timing of their performances.

Resources

School Radio > Music > Join in with Music