The Dhol Drum with Sunny Jain

From Kennedy Center: Teaching Artists Present · 2020

The Dhol Drum with Sunny Jain
10 min2nd3rd4th5thMusic
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Summary

Drummer Sunny Jain introduces the dhol, a two-headed drum from Punjab, and its energetic rhythms. Part of the Kennedy Center's Teaching Artists Present series — play it and have students make music right along with the teaching artist.

Viewer safety

All ages

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Teaching resources

Discussion questions

Discussion

This activity turns listening into making.

  1. What did you notice about the rhythm, the melody, or the dynamics?
  2. How did you keep the beat with the group?
  3. Can you make up a short pattern of your own?

Quick work-a-long

Vocabulary: beat, rhythm, pattern, dynamics (loud/soft), improvise.

Try it: Play along, then create a four-beat pattern and teach it to a partner using call-and-response.