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Making a Difference through
Music, Literacy, & Technology

" Think the right thoughts, say the right words and act in a way to enable others to succeed." Zig Wajler

1. Zig’s Musical Journey

2. West Africa meets Hip-Hop

>>>> NEW >>>> 3. Math with Music Cross-Curricular Connections <<<< NEW <<<<

4. Hands On Latin Style

5. Connecting Music, Literacy and Technology

6. Game-Based Learning with Music

7. Celebrate American Music

8. Latin Percussion workshop

9. African Drumming workshop

Zig's Programs can be tailored to meet the needs or your organization: Family-All Ages Performances, Educational Theatre Series (School Shows), School Assemblies, Classroom Workshops, Special Needs Programs, At-Risk Youth Enrichment Programs, Professional Development Workshops, Summer Programs, Collegiate Workshops, Corp. Events

Zig’s program was packed with knowledge with practical ideas that can be used immediately. MTGMEA

To listen to samples of music featured in Zig's programs click here: Zig's Music Samples

1. Zig’s Musical Journey (In-School assembly, Theatre Performance)

Music technology is integrated with world percussion introducing rhythms, sounds, and song-styles from around the world with authentic traditional world instruments, state of the art electronics, laser technology and original compositions. Music of Africa (Nigeria/Ghana), Latin Americas, South America, Native Americans, Hip-Hop, New-Age Jazz, and more. The elements of music, historical and cultural content are reinforced through active audience participation. Audience members will learn basic rhythm patterns, instruments names, and form various ensembles culminating in a large world music ensemble finale. For pre-and post studies, lesson plans, and play-along music we recommend Zig's book with CD, World Beat Fun (Alfred Pub.).

Program Content:

Rhythm-duple meter, 4/4 time, 6/8 time, cut time, tempo, note and rest values.
Harmony, melody, accompaniment, variations, repertoire of music.
Song form, composing, arranging, intros, codas, phrases.
Dynamics, family of instruments, timbre, names and sounds of instruments.
Orchestration, classify sounds, dynamics, various styles of music, multicultural music.
Proper playing techniques, hand positions, and basic rhythms.
Individual and Ensemble Instrumental participation-building a rhythm band.
Call & Response Vocal ensemble playing rhythm.
Integration of various types of music technology for performance and composition.
World culture and traditional instruments, belief systems reflected in music, influence on history, protest songs, current influence on popular culture, and musical comparisons.
Blending of various culture’s music in contemporary musical styles.
Occupational related fields in music.

2. West Africa meets Hip-Hop (In-School assembly, Theatre Performance, Classroom workshops, Professional Development)

The history and development of contemporary Hip-Hop is traced to traditional West African rhythms and music. This interactive performance compares rhythms and authentic instruments (Atoke, Gankogui, Axaste, Sogo, Kidi, Kaganu) of Gahu (recreational dance of Ghana) to contemporary Hip-Hop culture. A musical timeline is traced from the Griots of the 13^th Century, to slave trade, through present day spoken word “Rap” artists. Rhythms, instruments, rhythmic annunciation, call and response are reinforced through active participation culminating in an African/Hip-Hop student ensemble.

Program Content:

Basic rhythms will be taught the African way ‘Say what you Play’
Proper playing techniques and hand positions.
Notation of African rhythms for use in the classroom.
Names of instruments used in Gahu; Atoke, Axaste, Gankogui, Sogo, Kidi, Kaganu, and Boba.
Individual and Ensemble Instrumental participation-building a rhythm band.
Call & Response Vocal ensemble using the African way-word annunciation for playing rhythm.
Musical History timeline stating the development of Hip-Hop; Griots-Slave Songs-Blues-Ragtime-Jazz-Swing-BeBop-Cool Jazz-Gospel-R&B/Soul-Rock&Roll-Funk-Rap-HipHop.
Rhythms-duple meter, 4/4 time, 6/8 time, note values and notation,
Tempo, Melody, Harmony, Timbre, Song form, Call & Response, Improvisation, Composition, Performance, Dynamics, Family of Instruments
West African culture and traditional instruments, various styles of music, belief systems reflected in music being Gahu and Hip-Hop, influence on history, protest songs, current influence by African themes on popular culture, and musical comparisons.

3. Math with Music Cross-Curricular Connections (In-School assembly, Classroom workshops, Professional Development)

Math concepts and skills are compared side-by-side with music and instruments showing how the connections are made and explaining how concepts work. Students are engaged as active participants playing electronic and percussive instruments discovering how to implement various mathematical operations to accurately and efficiently display how the skills and concepts relate to real-world applications through music. Reinforced basic Math skills through music include; whole numbers and symbols, number operations and estimating with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions, abstract thinking with simple patterns and symmetry, ordered pairs and numbers, odd and even numbers, system(s) of measurement with time, shapes and grids with relationships such as intersecting parallel elements, and analyzing data in the form of song form, orchestration and compositions. Musical composition selections include familiar classic, traditional and contemporary song-styles representing various genres of music as heard in everyday life.

4. Hands On Latin Style (In-School assembly, Theatre Performance, Classroom workshops, Professional Development)

Interactive performance introducing Afro-Cuban rhythms, Latin song styles (Mambo, Rumba, Merengue, Cha-Cha-Cha, among others) Percussion, (Shekeree, Guiro, Timbales, Congas, Bells, Bongos, Palitos, Cajon, among others) and traditional folklore of Latin America and the Caribbean. A historical overview of the development of Latin American music with the contributions of West African rhythms, the folklore of Native Indians, and European traditions. Audience participation using authentic Latin percussion instruments by building various ensembles learning the basic rhythms and dances of Latin Song Styles.

Program Content:

Basic Latin rhythm patterns.
Latin Song Styles including Mambo, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Son, and Merengue among others.
Proper playing techniques, instrument names and pronunciation, hand positions.
Authentic Latin percussion instruments.
Notation of basic Latin rhythms.
Ensemble and Individual participation-building a rhythm section.
Call & Response ensembles.
West African culture and rhythmic influence on Latin music.
European culture and musical influence on Latin music.
Blending of various culture’s musical contributions to Salsa (Latin music).
Occupational related fields in music.

5. Connecting Literacy, Music & Technology - (Classroom sessions, workshops, Summer Programs, Professional Development)

The interactive workshop connects interdisciplinary subjects of language arts (creative writing), music (creating, arranging & composing), and technology (computers, software, & internet) as an effective approach for goal oriented project based learning applied to academic, personal and communal life skills relevant to today’s global society. The contemporary workshop engages the participants through interactive lessons to express and promote their creativity while learning through technology. The activity driven workshop presents a step-by-step process using Zig’s “Think, Plan, Assemble, Produce” curriculum. Participants work in small teams to create an original “song” by writing lyrics, scripts and/or poetry, composing and arranging music with technology, and recording their own voices. A student-centered collaborative leaning environment presents doable activities which reinforce and further develop computer aptitude, abstract thinking, organization, self-esteem, active listening, and teamwork. The goal and final product is a mastered digital media product (CD, .mp3, Podcast) featuring all the “songs” from the workshop. All participants use Zig’s digital workstation, curriculum and recording equipment. For pre-and post studies, lesson plans and further resoures we recommend Zig's book with Loop Library, Mr. Zig's Literacy, Music and Technology Connection (Alfred Pub.).

To listen to projects created by students click here: Listening Examples

Literacy Benefits:

Promote literacy skills in reading, writing, thinking, spelling, listening, speaking, creating, and articulation
Adapt, develop, and succeed with 21^st century computer literacy skills by applying various tasks as part of the learning process.
Connect interdisciplinary subjects of music, literacy, math, social studies and technology
Language vocabulary enrichment
Improve communication skills
Learn to hear in new ways through focused attention
Sequential learning, right/left brain integration
Introduce new methodologies to think ‘outside the box’
Stimulate the imagination by visualizing imagery
Learn to follow logic and organize thoughts
Problem solving with new strategies
Awareness of occupational related fields through the arts
Engagement in a meaningful activity with purpose

Social Benefits:

Increase higher level thinking, communication, productivity, and cooperative learning
Exposure to real-world applications
Result in opportunities to expand outlook, awareness and self expression
Refine the skill of respectful teamwork
Provide a contemporary vehicle for change
Positive interaction by learning to listen and contribute
Sharing and refining creative ideas
Learning to be open minded to new possibilities
Achieving common goals
Improved attitude and enthusiasm
Increased retention

Music Benefits:

Reinforce Elements of Music (Rhythm, Harmony, Melody, Tempo, Dynamics, Orchestration, Timbre)
Sounds of instruments, instrument families
Composing, arranging, phrases
Accompaniment
Song form
Measures, note & rest values with technology
Repertoire of music, contemporary & world music
Connecting subjects of math, science, and history through music

6. Game-Based Learning with Music (Classroom sessions, Professional Development)

Game-Based Learning is an engaging interactive experience which utilizes popular and contemporary gaming concepts (comparable to Guitar Hero and Rock-Band) with music. Selected audience members will interact/play as small ensembles using Zig’s state of the art electronic instruments, rhythm instruments, mallet instruments and electric keyboard. Each group of volunteers will become a member of a Game-Based band by reading/matching (shapes, colors, notes/rests) and playing melodic (high and low sounds) and/or rhythmic phrases (patterns) which will be accompanied by authentic familiar/traditional, contemporary, and multicultural song-styles based on grade specific content. Musical Styles include: Rock, Jazz, Country, Latin, African, Native American, Hip-Hop, Classical, and more. The program engages students as active participants by combining the learning modalities that include; auditory (listening, repetition, oral instruction, rhythmic sounds), visual (key ideas, demonstrations, recognizing shapes/colors, notation), and kinesthetic (active participation, problem solving).

7. Celebrate American Music (In-School Assembly, Theatre Performance, Professional Development)

The rich musical song styles that represent American music are presented as a historical timeline and musical tribute. The presentation addresses the similarities and differences between American musical song styles through performance (drumset/song styles) and dialogue. The content includes African and European influences and the blending of cultures. Academic skills introduced through music include: Social Studies, History, Geography, Math, and the Interdisciplinary Fine Arts. (This program does not include audience onstage participation)

8. Latin 101 percussion workshop (Classroom sessions, Professional Development)

An interactive ‘hands on’ workshop that provides every student the opportunity to participate. Students will be introduced to basic Latin rhythm patterns (tumbaos) through Zig’s ‘Say what you play’ teaching method which produces immediate results. The participants will learn proper technique, vocabulary, notation, and the history of Latin music by playing authentic Latin percussion instruments that include; congas, bongos, timbales, cowbells, claves, guiro, and maracas, among others. The students will combine the rhythm patterns as a rhythm ensemble along with rotating instrument so that each student has a chance to play all the different Latin percussion instruments. Instruments are provided for the duration of the workshop.

9. African Drumming with HipHop workshop(Classroom sessions, Professional Development)

Students will be introduced to basic rhythm patterns of Gahu from Ghana, compared to contemporary HipHop culture. Zig teaches authentic rhythms through his ‘Say what you play’ teaching method which produces immediate results The participants will learn proper technique, vocabulary, notation, and the history of African drumming by playing authentic African percussion instruments that include; atoke, axaste, gankogui, kidi, sogo, and kaganu, among others. The students will combine the rhythm patterns as a rhythm ensemble along with rotating instruments so that each student has a chance to play all the different percussion instruments. Each African rhythm is introduced through a side-by-side comparison of how that rhythm is used in today’s HipHop culture. Instruments are provided for the duration of the workshop.