UNIT 5:MODERN AND TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Key Unit Competence: Be able to play modern and traditionalmusical instruments.1
Introductory Activity
1. You have seen a military parade playing on different musical
instruments. Identify different instruments they use to perform.
2. In Rwanda, there are different instruments used when
accompanying songs. Describe them.
3. Use available instruments and perform different songs before the peers.
The grouping of an instrument is often determined by the making. It may also
be determined by the means of sound production. There are 3 main groupsof musical instruments. These are:
5.1 Stringed instruments or chordophones
Activity 5.1
1. Considering musical instruments with strings, classify them
according to their ways of producing sounds
2. Play the available stringed musical instruments accompanying
songs of different styles (religious, folkloric etc.
Stringed instruments produce sound when the player makes one or more
strings vibrate. They are two basic types:
a. Bowed stringed instruments
Bowed stringed instruments are usually stroked with a bow. The pressure of
the bow on the strings produces vibrations that are amplified by the body of
the instrument (case of resonance). To produce other pitches, the musician
shortens the strings by pressing down on them with the fingers.Examples: violin, viola, cello, iningiri.
b. Plucked stringed instruments
Plucked stringed instruments are played by plucking strings with the fingers
or a pick. The guitar is the common plucked instrument. Other examples are:harp, lute, mandolin, banjo, inanga.
Application activity 5.1
1. Differentiate the bowed from the plucked musical instruments
2. Using any available stringed instrument, play the notes Do-Mi-Sol
5.2 Wind instruments
Activity 5.2
1. Considering musical instruments that are blown in, classify them
according to their ways of producing sounds
2. Play the available wind musical instruments accompanying songs
of different styles (religious, folkloric, etc.
Wind instruments produce sounds when the player blows in. they are two basic types.
a. Brass instruments
For brass instruments, the vibrations of the player’s lips make the column of
air vibrate. For example, French horn, tuba, trombone, saxophone, trumpet etc.
b. Woodwind instruments
Most of woodwind instruments have a reed which vibrates when the player
blows in it, making the column of air vibrates. Sound is produced from the
flute when the player blows across the mouth piece, causing vibrations ofthe column of air. Examples: Piccolo, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, recorder.
Application activity 5.2
1. Differentiate the brass from the woodwind musical instruments2. Using any available wind instrument, play the notes Do-Mi-Sol
5.3 Percussion and other musical instruments
Activity 5.3
1. Considering musical instruments that are hit or shaken, classify
them according to their ways of producing sounds
2. Play the available percussion musical instruments accompanying
songs of different styles (religious, folkloric, etc.
3. Discuss the instruments that have keys and those that are used to
amplify sounds.
Percussion instruments produce sounds when shaken, clapped, struck,
and banged, shook, or hit with a stick or a mallet. When a membrane (the
stitched part) of a drum is hit, it vibrates and creates a sound. Instruments
such as xylophones or chimes have a series of tubes or bars you strike one
of the tubes or bars a sound is produced.
Examples: Percussion instruments are two types:
a. Membranophones
They have a membrane which vibrates when it is hit. For example:drums.
b. Idiophones
They produce sound when shaken, clapped, struck, and banged, shook orhit. Examples: cymbals, bells, triangle, amayugi, ikinyuguri …
Notice:
Body percussion are different sounds and rhythms made by using parts of
body. Examples: Clap, stamp, slap, whistle…Some musical instruments can
be keyboard instruments or electronic instruments.c. Other musical instruments
Keyboard instruments have a series of keys connected with a device that
produces tones. The musician presses the keys to make sounds. The most
popular keyboard instruments are: piano, pipe organ.
Electronic instruments include that generate sounds electrically and
those that electrically amplify sound produced by the instrument. The most
common electronic instrument is electric guitar. It makes louder and more
varied tones than an ordinary guitar. Other examples are electric piano an
electric organ.
An electronic instrument called synthetizer is used to create original sounds
or to imitate sounds of other musical instruments.
Application activity 5.3
1. Differentiate the membranophones from the idiophones musical
instruments
2. Using examples, explain what body percussion is?
3. Play C scale on the piano keyboard.
4. Using any available keyboard instrument, play the notes Do-Mi-Sol.
End unit assessment 5
1. A guitar is different from a trumpet. How is it so?
2. How are keyboard instruments played?
3. Classify the following musical instruments in their relative classes:
umuduri, ikondera, ishakwe, cymbals, triangle
4. Using available materials create your own instruments andaccompany a song with them.