Pre-Colonial Music and Dance

A Millii Thoughts Thursdays: Aristel Delacruz, Verma Zapanata, Maurus Dumalaog

September 25, 2008

Description: We will be teaching the students about cultural dances that remained untouched by the Spanish and those of which have no Western influence. Through dance descriptions and costumes, we will give the students an idea of how the dances were performed and their purpose. We will also be exposing the students to the individual instruments that make up the Kulintang Ensemble and lastly give them the opportunity to learn how to play some of the instrument and learn some of the dances.

Lesson Plan Materials:

  • Instruments: Drums, Gongs, Sarunay, etc.
  • PowerPoint
  • Costumes: Malongs, Ifagao Suite, Kalinga Suite, Necklaces, Headpeice
  • Worksheet

Lesson Plan
CRITICAL
VOCABULARY / Definition and Rationale for choosing this word, phrase, or concept / Idea for pre-teaching or front-loading the concept.
Pre- Colonial / Period of time before colonization of a region or territory.
All events prior to the Spanish invasion into to the Philippines- explaining how certain dances were able to be preserved without any Spanish or Western influence.
Animism / The belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena.
Tying this concept into the Indigenous dances of the Philippines and how the Northern Highlands based their dances towards rituals and sacrifices to appease the ancestors, cure ailments, ensure success in war, ward off ill luck, bountiful harvest, favorable weather, birth, marriage and death.

Part 1: Cultural Energizer

Malong Battle: Each student will be given a Malong to wear and will compete to see which group can come up with the most functions. Music will be playing in the background from the Sarunay and drums using them as a time keeper. At the end of each song, every groups has to have at least one new way to use the Malong. Of course, the group with the most points wins!

Step 1 / Each student will be handed a Malong to wear.
Step 2 / Split the classroom into four groups.
Step 3 / Start playing the instruments, starting off slow and then increasing the tempo to give them less and less time to come up with ideas.
Step 4 / Each group will present their function.
Step 5 / Each group to have a legitimate function receives a point.

Part 2: Community Collaboration and Cultural Production

Part A.

Worksheet: Each of the students will receive a worksheet designed to follow along with the PowerPoint smoothly, learning all the concepts and ideas.

Step 1 / Pass out a worksheet.
Step 2 / Instruct the students to fill in the answers as we go through the PowerPoint.
Step 3 / Students will discuss the answers they got.
Step 4 / Students will share and ask any questions that need clarification.

Part B.

Sayaw a’t Laro: After going through the Powerpoint, the students will get into two groups. The first group will learn how to play all the different instruments we brought in and the second group will learn a dance from the Muslim South.

Step 1 / Get into two groups.
Step 2 / Group one will pick an instrument between the gongs, drums, or sarunay. They will then learn a beat which they will have to replicate.
Step 3 / Group two will learn a Muslim dance using the Malongs and dancing to the beat of the drums.
Step 4 / After five minutes the groups will switch.

part 3: Conclusive Dialogue/Critical Circular Exchange

Problems/Questions of the Day: Based on the dances we exposed you to, how are they similar to other cultures? After teaching you about the Kulingtang Ensemble and learning that the woman are in the front, what does that say about gender roles in our culture? How is Music and Dance important to one’s culture?

Connection: Because we are a multicultural class, we will explore more ways of how the Filipino culture is similar to others.

Assessment: Do the students have a clear understanding of Pre-Colonial Music and Dance? Can they name the two regions where they can be found and their purposes? How does Music and Dance shape one’s culture?

Name

Date

Pre- Colonial Music and Dance Worksheet

1.) Define the following terms:

A.)Pre- Colonial-

B.)Animism-

2.) Where in the Philippines can you find “un-colonized” style dances?

______and ______

3.) Name the six main tribes of the Mountain Region.

______

4.) What is another word for “Mountain People?”

______

5.) What are the four main Muslim groups in the South?

______

6.) Name 2 pieces of the Mountain Dance Costume and the Muslim Dance Costume.

7.) Name and describe the following instruments:

______