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O ROOTS O World Drumming for 5th and 6th Grade Classrooms A teacher’s guide featuring multi-cultural, cross-curricular lessons designed to support an integrated arts and academics program. SPECIALofContents EDITIONInclude: THEIntroduction DAF • Lesson Guide • InstrumentIN MakingIRAQ • Funsheet Companion Musical Examples & Play Along Exercises • References RHYTHM ©2009 Percussion Marketing Council • www.playdrums.com Contents may be reproduced for non-commercial, educational purposes only hHhHhHhHh Introduction In August of 2007 I was asked by Melinda Witter, an American conflict resolution specialist living in the Middle East, to bring drum circles to northeastern Kurdistan, an area of Iraq suffering from decades of war and oppression. During the trip to Iraq, my apprehensions about traveling in an active war-zone were matched by my excitement at seeing the impact group drumming had in reducing conflict and promoting dialogue. Through drumming, my three- person team was successful in bringing Kurds, Arabs, Christians, and Yazidis together. It was amazing that something as simple as a drum could have such far-reaching, life-changing results. In October 2008 we were able to return to Iraq with Dr. Craig Woodson, author of Roots of Rhythm and noted ethnomusicologist. Dr. Woodson’s addition to the project allowed us to include a new, worldwide perspective and hands-on drum making, both of which empowered the participants while providing the benefit of having many more instruments available at relatively little cost. One of the drums we discovered in Iraq, the daf, is a frame drum that has been used throughout the region for centuries in religious practices and performances. The daf quickly became the core instrument of our project and one of intense study by Dr. Woodson, whose inspiration and dedication led to the creation of this special Roots of Rhythm chapter. As we learned, the drum is an instrument that can be used for physical and psychological rehabilitation as well as a tool for peace that can remove barriers between people of different cultural, religious, territorial and ethnic backgrounds. Our program continues to grow in Iraq as we continue to demonstrate the connection between building drums and building peace. I feel that this model can be replicated to reduce and resolve other conflicts and that it will no doubt become a significant contribution to students and teachers in the U.S. and around the world. —Christine Stevens MSW, MT-BC (author The Healing Drum Kit, founder UpBeat Drum Circles, www.AshtiDrum.com) Roots of Rhythm: Special Edition World Drumming for 5th and 6th Grade Classrooms THE DAF IN IRAQ This Special Edition on the Daf in Iraq is intended to be used in conjunction with Roots of Rhythm, the interdisciplinary music and academic curriculum that integrates world drumming with core subjects in upper elementary school classrooms. Please refer to the introductory content contained in the first fifteen pages of the Roots of Rhythm guides for important information on the curriculum’s purpose, sponsors, benefits, lessons, resources and author. Other sections of the guides can also be consulted for additional support. The complete Roots of Rhythm content and resources, including all sixteen chapters, classroom activities, musical examples and supplements, can be found at online at www.rootsofrhythm.net. Table of Contents __________________________________________________________ I. Acknowledgements 2 II. Notes on the Special Edition 3 III. Roots of Rhythm Lesson i: The daf, a peace-building drum in Iraq 5 ii. Extensions 18 iii. Funsheet 21 Please note: This lesson supports students’ learning with recorded examples of the country’s traditional music for listening purposes and with recorded exercises for play along musical activities, with real instruments, found sounds, homemade instruments, and/or body percussion. The lesson concludes with a “Funsheet” student activity/work sheet. IV. Companion Music Notes 23 V. References 25 VI. Recommended Reading List 28 VII. Blank T.U.B.S. Notation Paper for One to Four Parts and Four to Seven Counts 29 1 Roots of Rhythm: Special Edition World Drumming for 5th and 6th Grade Classrooms THE DAF IN IRAQ Acknowledgements The following people contributed to the development of the Daf chapter for Roots of Rhythm: World Drumming for 5th and 6th Grade Classrooms: David Levine, president, Full Circle Management and director of Roots of Rhythm for the Percussion Marketing Council, Jessica Baron (Recommended Reading list) and Dr. Craig Woodson (Roots of Rhythm author) owner of Ethnomusic, Inc. Additionally, gratitude goes to the following people who contributed directly to this educational resource through their interviews, editing, recorded material, and/or inspiration: Houman Pourmehdi, for his in person interviews, editing and use of recorded material; Peyman Nasehpour, for his web material and editing; Bryar Hikmet, master daf and tonbak player in Iraq, for his daf and tonbak instruction and use of his recorded material; Melinda Witter, for her original invitation to Iraq and her editing of this chapter; Remo Belli, for his interview on daf drum technology; Ariel Sabar, author and journalist, and his father, Yona Sabar, Ph.D., Professor, Near Eastern Studies, University of California at Los Angeles for their collective expert editorial comments especially regarding the Jewish heritage in Kurdistan; and Christine Stevens, for her editorial comments, her inspirational efforts to begin building international peace through drumming and drum circles and her many contributions to this project. Several people and organizations supported the development of Roots of Rhythm: Daniel Sheehy, Smithsonian Folkways (Washington, DC), Mr. Mohammad Tofqik with Kurdistan Save the Children (Iraq), Christine Stevens of Up Beat Drum Circles (Los Angeles, CA), Melinda Witter, mediation specialist (Iraq), Constantine Alatzas, videographer (New Mexico), Ariel Sabar, author and journalist (Washington, DC), Yona Sabar, Ph.D., Professor, Near Eastern Studies, University of California, Los Angeles and Corky Quakenbush, video producer, SpaceBass Films (Los Angeles, CA). The following persons/organizations graciously donated or licensed traditional tracks for the Roots of Rhythm: Special Edition companion music: Kurdish Heritage Institute (Sulaymānīyah, Iraq), Smithsonian Folkways & the Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies at the Smithsonian Institution and Houman Pourmehdi, Lian Records. Finally, Tommy Wiggins worked tirelessly as recording engineer on the Roots of Rhythm companion music and play-along examples. The Percussion Marketing Council 2 Roots of Rhythm: Special Edition World Drumming for 5th and 6th Grade Classrooms THE DAF IN IRAQ Notes on the Special Edition This addition to the fifteen original chapters of the Roots of Rhythm curriculum came about as a result of my trip to northern Iraq with world-renowned music therapist and drum circle facilitator Christine Stevens in the Fall of 2008. My experience in working with the people of this war-torn region of the world, and the incredible spirit they continue to display while living under difficult conditions, had a profound effect on me and ultimately inspired and guided my writing of this sixteenth Roots of Rhythm chapter. The part of Iraq we visited, the area known as Kurdistan, is an ancient land inhabited by an ancient people where, despite a long history of oppression and devastation, their traditions and passion for drumming have survived throughout the centuries. In the midst of war, the drum has emerged as an instrument of peace. Although this chapter focuses primarily on the country of Iraq, the featured instrument, the daf, is closely associated with the Kurdish subculture that developed in an area that is now claimed by Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran. I have therefore included information about the geography, history and culture of both Iraq and Kurdistan as necessary and appropriate to support a better understanding of the subject. Other sections of this guide, such as the Play-Along exercises, Funsheet and TUBS notation page, also vary slightly from the format used in the original Roots of Rhythm guides in order to provide a deeper insight and greater authenticity. The homemade daf described in this chapter, for example, is the same one we made with men, women and children in workshops in Iraq. Considering the importance of this area in the world today, and the historic importance of this drum, this Special Edition adds a new element of relevance to the Roots of Rhythm program. In the end, the story of the daf was one that I felt not only deserved to be included among the world’s drums but one that needed to be told. It is my hope that by studying this lesson students and teachers will gain a new appreciation of Iraq, its people and its drumming. — Dr. Craig Woodson, Ph.D. (author Roots of Rhythm, founder Ethnomusic, Inc., www.WorldDrumming.net) Addendum to the Chart of Roots of Rhythm Instruments & Cultures The daf, an ancient, single-headed frame drum from Iraq has been used in religious and spiritual ceremonies throughout the Middle East for centuries. More recently it has become a powerful instrument for conflict mediation and peace-building by bringing people of different social, cultural and religious beliefs together in a cooperative, non-hostile, group drumming environment. The daf, with its unique sound modifying rings, is similar to other frame drums that are found around the world, including the Kanjira (India), Bodhrán (Ireland), Lakota Drum (North America), Pandeiro (Brazil) and Tambourine (Central Europe). 3 ROOTS OF RHYTHM: SPECIAL EDITION – THE DAF IN IRAQ Instrument: Daf, a Kurdish frame drum for spiritual ceremonies and peace-building. Country: Iraq Flag: The Iraqi flag has three equal horizontal bands of red, white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning “God is great”) in green Arabic script is centered in the middle white band. The flag's design comes from the Arab Liberation colors. The Iraqi government's new Council of Representatives approved this flag as a temporary replacement for Iraq’s Saddam Hussein-era flag.

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