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Today's guest post is again written by Grammy nominated artist Daria, and is a great tutorial on how to make your own Peruvian Cahon drum from materials you already have around your house! ~~Katie
Today's guest post is again written by Grammy nominated artist Daria, and is a great tutorial on how to make your own Peruvian Cahon drum from materials you already have around your house! ~~Katie
Oct 8st How A Box Can Become A First Drum:
The Story of The Peruvian Cajon
In the coast of Peru and in several other Latin American countries you'll find a drum that is square. Originally made out of dresser drawers or crates used in shipping, this instrument has an amazing sound all it's own. Played like any other drum, you can strike it with your hands, palm, fingers and create wonderful rhythms.
Creating your own cajón from a sturdy cardboard box is a fun way of learning about Afro-Peruvian culture and exploring the basics of drumming and simple percussion together with your child.
The Story Of the Cajón
Although most folks know that enslaved people were brought to America from Africa, this practice also occurred throughout the Caribbean and Latin America countries as well. In Peru, the slave owners were particularly cruel and forbid the use of traditional African drums. Instead of giving up the memories or music from their homeland, these enslaved people started to drum in private. They used whatever they could find such as simple wooden boxes and turned then into creative, inventive great-sounding drums. As Afro-Peruvian culture evolved, the cajón became the centerpiece of many of it’s unique and beautiful rhythms, dances and styles of music.
Creating your own cajón from a sturdy cardboard box is a fun way of learning about Afro-Peruvian culture and exploring the basics of drumming and simple percussion together with your child.
The Story Of the Cajón
Although most folks know that enslaved people were brought to America from Africa, this practice also occurred throughout the Caribbean and Latin America countries as well. In Peru, the slave owners were particularly cruel and forbid the use of traditional African drums. Instead of giving up the memories or music from their homeland, these enslaved people started to drum in private. They used whatever they could find such as simple wooden boxes and turned then into creative, inventive great-sounding drums. As Afro-Peruvian culture evolved, the cajón became the centerpiece of many of it’s unique and beautiful rhythms, dances and styles of music.
Make Your Own Cajón
A cajón is basically a box with a round-shaped sound hole. So, a simple project would begin with a cardboard box of any size - even a shoe box will do. For a sturdier project, you can buy a wooden box at a craft store or look for one at a produce store. An adult that does basic wood crafting can also help you to assemble a wooden box to begin your project. Next, you'll need a sound hole--the place where the sound will escape. Draw and cut a circle from your cardboard boxes or have an adult help with the preparation for the heavier wooden boxes. Although most sound holes are round, you could experiment with other sizes and shapes and see what happens!
Decorate Your Cajón
If your cajón is made of paper or cardboard, use anything you like to decorate it. Paper, paint, ribbons, stickers, photos, drawings, sharpie pens or rubber stamps. If you are working with wood, you can also use paint and pens and you may wish to add a coat of lacquer afterward to keep your designs from fading.
Time To Play!
All drumming is played by creating a series of patterns. Strike your box and get to know its different sounds. Then mix them and match the sounds to make beats, or discover how your beats can accompany any of your favorite songs. If you want to begin playing in a more serious manner, you can start by learning two basic sounds on your cajón. You can create a louder sound (sometimes called a “dum”) by striking the center of the box with the palm of your hand. You can make the quieter sound (sometimes called a “bek”) by tapping the sides of the box with the inside of your fingers. Once you master these two songs, you can easily mix and match them to create either simple o or wonderfully complex rhythms.
Find a Local Drum Circle!
If you want to explore your drum with other people, you can often find drum circles at local schools, community centers or even churches and houses of worship. Most drum circles pride themselves on being good places for people of all ages and all skill levels to explore playing music as a group and to learn more about their instruments.
Play Along With Favorite Latin American Folksongs!
Your cajón will sound especially good when played with Latin American songs. If you like, you can play along to songs like La Cucaracha and La Bamba or a song called Ese Pollito that tells the story of a little chick that peeps too much. You can find animations of these songs in the video links below. If you encourage your children to listen to the beat of the song once or twice, they can often begin playing along right away and matching the beat or adding sounds that work well with what they hear in the song.
Play Along With Your Child!
Although crafting an instrument and learning a new skill can be a lot of fun, it can also be frustrating at times. Why not make a box drum for yourself and learn to play along with your child. Mix and match beats with them. Create songs you can play together. You can show them how learning to listen and practicing any skill are wonderful tools to sharpen no matter what activity you are involved in!
Have Fun!
Most of all, enjoy yourself. Express yourself in the artwork and design of your simple drum and let your spirit soar while playing. Play fast or slow, loud or softly. Invent a song or a beat all your own. You’ll be making some great family memories and also some beautiful music!
Helpful Links
Hear a cajón and simple cajón song here: http://www.dariamusic.com/cajon.php Color a cajón (online and as a pdf print-out) http://www.dariamusic.com/cajon.php
Play Along With These Videos La Cucaracha La Bamba Ese Pollito http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx_3qj5KvnA
DARIA (Daria
Marmaluk-Hajioannou): Called “an ambassador of song”, by US newspapers, Daria, a
Grammy-nominated artist, has traveled around the world to create music that
uplifts and empowers. A 2008 and 2007 “Parent’s Choice“ winner, all of Daria’s
CD’s are currently being played around the globe from Australia, to South
Africa, to Europe and South America as well as across the US in homes,
preschools, schools and on several Native American Reservations. Daria has recorded and
released four children’s music CD’s – Grandchildren's
Delight, Beautiful Rainbow
World, I Have A Dream
and Jadda, Jadda, Jing,
Jing Jing!. Daria holds a degree in ethnomusicology and is active in Education, Special
Education, Native American, Peace and Children’s issues. Daria lives with her
family on a farm outside of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.www.dariamusic.com
http://makingmulticulturalmusic.wordpress.com
We love drumming at our house. Thanks for sharing with Repurposed Ideas Weekly.
ReplyDeleteOh, how fun!! I love it! Thank you so much for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
ReplyDelete