African Music Concepts and Rhythms

The video explores the drumming traditions of sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the oral tradition where music is learned directly from person to person. It introduces three main types of drums: the djembe, dunnan, and talking drum, each with unique characteristics and roles in music. The video also discusses other instruments like the agogo and shaker, and highlights rhythmic features such as polyrhythms and cross rhythms, emphasizing the cyclic nature of African music patterns.

What is the primary method of learning music in Sub-Saharan Africa?

• Written notation

• Oral tradition

• Digital recordings

• Sheet music

Which drum is known for its goblet shape and is played with hands?

• Djembe

• Dunnan

• Agogo

• Talking drum

What is a unique feature of the talking drum?

• It is always played by women

• It can mimic speech inflections

• It is the largest drum

• It is played with a stick

Who typically leads the music in African drumming ensembles?

• The fastest drummer

• The master drummer

• The youngest drummer

• The loudest drummer

Which instrument is described as a gourd with beads or shells attached?

• Dunnan

• Agogo

• Djembe

• Shaker

What does the term 'polyrhythm' mean in African music?

• A single rhythm repeated

• Many rhythms played simultaneously

• A fast rhythm

• A slow rhythm

What is a common feature of melodies in African music?

• Always instrumental

• Always vocal

• Long and complex

• Short and with a small range

What is the term for the musical interaction where one phrase is answered by another?

• Call and response

• Duet

• Solo

• Harmony

What is a cross rhythm?

• A rhythm that is played alone

• A rhythm that is always fast

• Rhythms that feel different when played together

• A rhythm that is played in a group

How are rhythmic patterns typically structured in African music?

• Linear and non-repetitive

• Cyclic and repetitive

• Always increasing in speed

• Always decreasing in speed