International Module
Name: Tom Breece
College: Motlow State Community College
Course: Music Appreciation (MUSA 1030)
Module Title: The Message of African Drums
Module Description:
This module will help students in music appreciation gain knowledge and
understanding about how music is really a reflection of human thinking and feeling in every culture.
Emphasis will be placed on the history and significance of the African drums. Students should develop
greater understanding of how music can transcend all other forms of communication even to the extent
that music can speak directly to the subconscious mind – bypassing the conscious. Students will identify
the sound of specific African drums, conveying that music is indeed a universal language. Students will
learn that in some cultures an instrument is considered almost a being with a life of its own - because
the instrument is able to communicate our feelings. The instrument becomes an extension of the
performer, with the performer speaking through the instrument. The purpose of this module is to
increase knowledge, comprehension, and application of musical expression specific to African drums.
Module Objectives:

Objective 1: Students in internationalized classes will develop greater knowledge of cultures
other than their own and the impact of diverse cultural perspectives on world events.

SLOs (Knowledge)
1a. Students will increase their knowledge of cultures in the world around them, in
particular of African culture through the study of drums.

Objective 2: Students in internationalized classes will acquire increased understanding of the
international aspects of the respective subject area/course discipline.

SLOs (Comprehension)
2b. Students will describe how the course-related international content impacts their
own occupational/professional development through recognition that familiarity with
the music of a different culture better prepares the student to communicate with and
interact on a professional level with the peoples of the culture.

Objective 3: Students in internationalized classes will demonstrate an awareness and
understanding of the interdependency and consequences of international events and issues.

SLOs (Application)
3b. Students will articulate the perspectives of other cultures and nations when
analyzing world events through learning to better identify with people by studying their
musical expression – and in particular the expression of African drums.
Methodology:
This module, The Message of African Drums, will be infused into classroom lessons on a study
of the elements of music, specifically the four universal classifications of instruments:
membranophones, idiophones, chordophones and aerophones.
Assignments:
Working individually, students will research the history and early significance of African drums
and prepare and submit a paper highlighting the history and significance of the drums in the
African culture. Students will also be required to answer to answer specific questions on an
exam to demonstrate their understanding of the African Drums.
Evaluations:
Students will be graded through a written evaluation and a paper according to a rubric provided
in advance to the students. The project will be at least 5% of the students’ grade for the course.
Effectiveness Standard:
70% of the students will be expected to meet the standards as listed on the Rubric- a score of 3
or 4.
Resources: Textbook, audio clips, web resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQxwGSTgMNU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ44TcvX5Q4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4oQJZ2TEVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDSPPHGht5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g19eRur0v0&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5C266wI0Iw&feature=related
http://www.afrodrumming.com/djembe-history.php
http://www.african-music-safari.com/djembe-history.html
http://www.soundjunction.org/historyoftheudu.aspa?NodeID=234
http://www.soundjunction.org/whydoonlywomenmakeudus.aspa?NodeID=234
http://allafrica.com/stories/201105161209.html
Questions to be incorporated into exam:
1. The djembe is an example of what family of
instruments?
Membranophone
2. The udu exhibits characteristics of both an
_________ and an _______________.
Idiophone , Aerophone
3. The udu originated among the __________
people of Nigeria.
Igbo
4. What characteristic of many African languages
makes it possible for the talking drum to
imitate those languages and thus be used to
send messages?
Many African languages are tonal,
meaning that the inflection of the voice
(raising and lowering of the pitch)
determines the meaning of the word.
5. What three spirits are thought to be
represented when playing a djembe?
The spirit of the tree which represents the
wood for the body of the instrument.
The spirit of the animal which represents
the skin for the head of the drum.
The spirit of the person who is playing the
drum.
6. What is the meaning of the word udu in the
Igbo language?
Vessel, or water pot
7. How does the talking drum change its pitch?
Squeezing the string that connect the two
heads of the drum thus tightening the
heads.
8. What material is the udu made of?
Fired clay
9. Who in the Igbo culture traditionally makes
the udu?
Women