October 5, 2009

October 5, 2009October 5, 2009Who in your family is the Who in your family is the keeper of the stories? For keeper of the stories? For example, who remembers example, who remembers the names of the Great the names of the Great Grandparents and when Grandparents and when they came to America?they came to America?

Homework:Homework:

Ask someone Ask someone you know over you know over the age of 45 or the age of 45 or so what they so what they remember of the remember of the original showing original showing of rootsof roots

Talking DrumTalking Drum The The talking drumtalking drum

is is a Nigerian drum a Nigerian drum whose pitch can whose pitch can be regulatedbe regulated to to the extent that it the extent that it is said the drum is said the drum "talks" and "talks" and can be can be used for drum used for drum communication.communication. Talking drums are Talking drums are hour-glass shaped hour-glass shaped with two heads with two heads tuned by straps tuned by straps that connect the that connect the heads with each heads with each other.other.

Talking DrumTalking Drum

The player puts the drum The player puts the drum under one shoulder and under one shoulder and beats the instrument with beats the instrument with a specialized beater. a specialized beater. The The pitch is raised or lowered pitch is raised or lowered by squeezing or releasing by squeezing or releasing the drum's strings with the the drum's strings with the upper arm.upper arm. This can This can produce highly informative produce highly informative sounds to convey sounds to convey complicated messages. complicated messages. The ability to change the The ability to change the drum's pitch is analogous drum's pitch is analogous to the language tonality of to the language tonality of some African languages. some African languages.

Talking DrumsTalking Drums

TwiTwi K t k , mommra (L L L, H ɔ ɔ ɔK t k , mommra (L L L, H ɔ ɔ ɔH L)H L)

Translated into EnglishTranslated into English ““Everyone should come“Everyone should come“ Try to play it!Try to play it!

Talking DrumsTalking Drums

Twi Twi Yeda w’ase, Akud nto (L L L ɔYeda w’ase, Akud nto (L L L ɔ

L, L H L L)L, L H L L) Translated into English Translated into English Thank you very much“Thank you very much“ Try to play it!Try to play it!

Morse CodeMorse Code

A language of sorts A language of sorts Combinations of Combinations of

dots and dashes dots and dashes take the place of take the place of lettersletters

Similar in some Similar in some ways to talking ways to talking drumsdrums

Class work:Class work:

Assume dots are the Assume dots are the same as high and same as high and dashes are the same dashes are the same as lowas low

Write a simple Write a simple message of your message of your choosing in Morse choosing in Morse CodeCode

Switch messages with Switch messages with someone someone

Play their messagePlay their message