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Rhythm Section

Dance to the beat of your own drum and find your rhythm.

Do you like music? Do you like to sing songs, dance, and play instruments? So do people in every culture. In this room you can listen to rhythms from Africa, South America, and Asia and then try out instruments from all over the world.

What can you do?
Play an imbira from Zimbabwe, a saron from Indonesia, elephant bells from India, and a talking drum used in Native American powwows.
Listen to music made by taiko drums in Japan, sabar drums in Senegal, and cajons in Cuba.
Try to repeat the rhythms, or just play along on a taiko, sabar, or cajon
Dance, dance, dance!

What can you discover?
The sabar (SAA-bar) drum is from the West African nation of Senegal. Most of the time seven sabar drums are played together. One person starts to play and the rest follow the beat and listen for rhythm changes.
The taiko (TIE-ko) drum has been played in Japan for hundreds of years. Taikos were originally played to set a beat for soldiers to march to. Today, they are used for celebrations, ceremonies, and concerts.
The cajon (ka_HON) originally came from Peru and was made from a box or an empty drawer that people played with their hands. Later, people added holes to improve the sound. The cajon is now played all over the world.

Want to see more at The Field Museum?
After you have “jammed” at the Crown Family PlayLab, borrow an Experience Box from the Harris Educational Loan Program to take home. These boxes contain portable collections of artifacts, replicas, specimens, and many other resources. Choose from more than 70 different topics relating to nature and culture. If you want to learn more about music and instruments from around the world, be sure to ask about the “Hawaiian Music and Dance” box or the “Listen to the Sounds of Africa” box.

Have more fun at home
Make your own drum out of something at your house. Try an empty box, and old coffee can, or even the top of a chair. All you need to do is tap on the top of it to make a beat. Tap fast and slow to change the beat. Use your hands, a spoon, or even a pencil to tap. You will be on your way to composing your own rhythm in no time!

Drums, Drums, Drums
Hear musicians play three unique drums.


Continue to Scientists’ Lab. >>





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