African Rhythms & Beats: Bringing African Traditions to the Classroom

“African Rhythms & Bringing African Traditions to the Classroom” is a fun and exciting new music curriculum developed to help bring the incredible sounds of African music into classrooms and music schools everywhere! This smartly designed and effective book, written by a teacher for teachers, provides a simple, easy-to-understand method for teaching students of any ability level how to understand and become part of a real African drumming ensemble. Author Calla Isaak, an accomplished music educator and pedagogian from Winnipeg, Canada, developed this curriculum. It offers a step-by-step approach that ultimately allows students of all ability levels to participate in an authentic African drumming ensemble by the end of this four-stage course. This innovative curriculum is a direct result of her own combined passions for African drumming and music education, and her enthusiasm for both subjects is evident in the book. By starting out with simple techniques and rhythmic exercises before gradually moving on through a series of progressively more challenging stages, students get a strong understanding of the principles of ensemble playing before they become a part of one.