Program Guide

Sirius Coyote

Grades: K - 12

ABOUT THE PROGRAM S Filled with enchanting rhythms and powerful folklore, this incredibly entertaining performance is made up of contemporary and ancient American music. Audiences sing, clap, and dance on a journey from Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to the music of the North American Eastern Woodlands and Plains. The performers are accomplished musicians skilled with over thirty instruments of ancient and contemporary origin. Many of the instruments, in fact, have been handcrafted by the musicians themselves. Sirius Coyote is an exciting and educational experience, these artists are always impressive, and thrill audiences while providing an invaluable learning experience.

OBJECTIVES

 To introduce students to the music and culture of ABOUT THE ARTIST Mesoamerican, South American, and North The acclaimed artists who form the group Sirius Coyote, are American peoples. dedicated to cultural education and environmental  To inspire cultural awareness and improve self- awareness. They blend Latin, Folk, Pre-Columbian, Afro, and esteem in diverse student populations. Jazz to create an original sound. Experts at playing over  To impress upon students the importance of thirty musical instruments from the traditional, to the environmental awareness, and demonstrate the classical, to the ancient, these artists even craft many of importance of nature in native cultures. their instruments by hand. They have recorded eight albums,

includ ing a collection of children’s songs from Latin America. Their members have lived, and worked, all over the world in RESOURCES Venezuela, Mexico, Columbia, and the U.S. One of their

members, Giovanni, is a Connecticut Master Teaching Artist. Print

Latin America by Lois Athey The Aztecs, Penny Bateman

Music of Latin America: An Introduction, Gerard

Behague

Keepers of the Earth, Josheph Bruchac and Michael J.

Caduto Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture, Barbara, A. Tenebaum

Web: http://jellyjam.org/cgi-bin/download.cgi http://ladb.unm.edu/retanet/rmd.html/ http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/

PRE PROGRAM VOCABULARY and CONCEPTS  Have a short geography lesson on Latin America ATABAQUE: Large used in Brazilian candomble focusing not only on the physical geography, but music. also on the areas culture and history. AYOYOLES: Ankle shakers made with seed pods.  Have your students research Latin culture, create BERIMBAU: Stringed bow from Brazil of African origin. a report, and present to the class. BOMBO: Large drum from South America with skins on both  Compare the youth in Latin cultures and the sides. traditional youth in the United States. How are the CAJON: Wooden boxes of various sizes played with the hands. two groups similar; and how are they different? CAMPANAS: Metal bells (, Agogo), one or two tones.  Listen to examples of Latin music, and listen to CARACOL: Conch shell cut to sound like a trumpet. contemporary radio. What differences do your CAXIXI: Woven basket rattle used widely in Brazil. students notice? What do the students suppose CHARANGO: Hybrid stringed instrument made on an armadillo the performance will be like? shell.

 Discuss the importance of global ecosystems. CHEQUERE: Large Caribbean gourd rattle with outer woven

Focus not only on the environmental importance beads. of these ecosystems, but also on the cultural CHIRIMIAS: Reed flutes used in Mexico by the Aztecs & Maya. impacts native ecosystems have on populations. : Hardwood sticks used to cue the rhythm section.

CONGA: Afro-Caribbean drum with metal tuners. POST PROGRAM CUICA: Small friction drum from Brazil used in music.  Remembering your earlier discussion on the FURRUCO: Large friction drum from the Andean regions of differences between Latin and contemporary Peru. music from the U.S. discuss whether the GUIRO: Rasping instrument made by cutting grooves on long performance was similar to your students’ gourds. expectations, or not. GUITARRA: Nylon string guitar of Spanish origin.  Have your class evaluate the performance. What HUEHUETL: Large three legged drum from Mexico used in were the high points, and low points; what did Aztec dances. they like, and dislike? : Rattles made from small gourds filled with pebbles.  Have the class debate how, and to what degrees, MARIMBULA: Four tones thumb piano used in Caribbean folk environment and culture are intertwined. music.

OCARINAS: Clay whistles used in North and South America.

PALO DE LLUVIA: Rainstick made of bamboo filled with CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS pebbles.

PANDERO: used in Brazilian and Puerto Rican CT. Arts Framework: Music Content Standard #6 music. Analysis; # 8 Connections between music and other QUENA: Vertical flute producing five tones used by the Incas. disciplines; #9 History and Culture. QUIJADA: Bone rattle made from a horse's jaw with loose

teeth. CT. Social Studies Framework: Social Studies SONAJAS: Rattles made from gourds, seeds, bones or other Content 3.3 Apply appropriate historical, geographic, objects. economic, and cultural concepts and methods in SURDO: Brazilian large drum used for samba and in parades. proposing and evaluating solutions to contemporary TAMBORA: Two sided barrel sized drum used in the merengue. problems. TEPONAZTL: Log drum from Mexico made out of hollow log.

TORTUGA: Turtle shell used as a two tone drum. National Core Curriculum Standards for English XICAHUASTLI: Aztec rattles made of hollow wood or gourds. Language Arts

 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration 1-3;  Science and Technology in Society - Earth materials provide resources for all living things, but these resources are limited and should be conserved.  GLE 1: Describe ways people use earth materials, such as fossil fuels, trees, water, soils and rocks as natural resources to improve their lives.

ARTS FOR LEARNING CONNECTICUT

An Affiliate of Young Audiences

203-230-8101 [email protected] www.aflct.org

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