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Making a Difference through
Music, Literacy, & Technology

" All of my programs are based on my passion for music, education, technology, and the arts." Zig Wajler

1. Zig’s Musical Journey, 2. West Africa meets Hip-Hop, 3. Game-Based Learning with Music * NEW

4. Hands On Latin Style, 5. Connecting Music, Literacy and Technology, 6. Celebrate American Music

Zig's Programs can be tailored to suit 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

It was awesome seeing students enjoying learning. Your instruction is the kind of learning that will stay with them long after the program is over. I really appreciate your motivational dialogues with them also. Seeing you as a successful professional will also be a great reinforcement to them. Teachers tell them these things, and they often ignore them. But when you tell them they can achieve their goals with hard work, they listen. You have a wonderful, kind way with the students also. Your accepting attitude with them gives them a safe environment and makes them open to learning in the process. SVCA Arts Coordinator

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. Game-Based Learning with Music * NEW (In-School Assembly, Classroom sessions, Professional Development)

Game-Based Learning is an engaging interactive experience which utilizes popular and contemporary gaming concepts (comparable to Rock-Band) with music. The program will assist students/teachers to augment and enhance existing content for music by analyzing, explaining, comparing similarities/differences, and describing cultures, time periods, uses of the elements of music, and purpose of music. Selected audience members will interact/play as small ensembles using Zig’s state of the art electronic instruments. Each group of volunteers will become a member of a Game-Based band by reading/matching (shapes, colors, notes/rests) and playing melodic and/or rhythmic phrases which will be accompanied by authentic traditional, contemporary, and multicultural song-styles. 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). Song styles include: Rock, Jazz, Pop, African, Latin, Blues, Classical, Country, and Hip-Hop among others.

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 (words), music (creating, arranging & composing), and technology (computers, software, & internet) as an effective approach for project based learning. The goal/final product is an original work of art in the form of a digital portfolio (audio CD, .mp3, Podcast) which is created, written, composed, recorded, and produced by the students as a collaborative, small group(s) and/or individual learning project. Students can choose writing styles (Personal, Reflective, Expressive, Literary, Persuasive, and Informative) in the forms of spoken poetry, contemporary songs, radio and television commercials, comedy skits, classroom themes and school wide themes only limited to student imagination and creativity. Examples of styles of music include Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, Blues, Classical, Country, Word Music, and Underscoring for Movies among others. The students will be engaged in a fun, exciting, positive learning experience with purpose. All students work from Zig’s digital workstation.

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

Benefits of the workshop:

A new and effective teaching tool to enhance the knowledge and skills of all teachers.
A resource for non-music teachers to integrate arts education into their curriculum.
A venue that will assist educators with the ability to meet individual student differences through technology that will promote learning.
Promote literacy skills in reading, writing, thinking, spelling, listening, speaking, creating, and articulation.
Help students develop 21^st century computer literacy skills by applying various tasks as part of the learning process.
Raise student motivation and increasing academic engagement time with talks they can successfully accomplish.
Increase and encourage teacher/student interaction and cooperation.
Enhance and expand student critical and higher level thinking, communication, productivity, and cooperative learning.
Create opportunities for students to become more active participants in the classroom.
Introduce lessons that augment existing curriculum with focus on real-world application.
Create digital portfolios in various formats.
Relates to The National Standards for Music.
Encourage students to express themselves by having fun with the writing process.
The students will be engaged in a fun, exciting, positive learning experience.

6. 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)

7. 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.

8. African Drumming with HipHop (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.

For Additional Information Please contact:

Jeff Goldsmith

(615) 773-9295

email: handsonwithzig@aol.com

Program Offerings

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