April 5, 2014 1:00-4:00 PM "Drums Around The World" Percussion Party at Penn Museum

Saturday, April 5, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
World Culture Afternoon
Drums around the World

This percussion party takes guests on a musical journey from Africa to Brazil, to Ireland, the Middle East, and Native American beats, all in one afternoon. A limited number of drums are provided, and visitors are welcome to bring their own drums to the Penn Museum for the workshops—and a grand finale drum circle performance to close the afternoon in a medley of drums, cultures, and goodwill. Family crafts and a self-guided tour of instruments on display throughout the Penn Museum round out the day.

As part of the day's musical theme, guests can take a self-guided tour of instruments on display throughout the Penn Museum, including:

an mbira (finger piano) from the Shona people of Southern Africa and Zimbabwe in the Africa Gallery
a ceramic flute played by the Aztecs of Central Mexico ca. 1200–1500 CE in the Mexico and Central America Gallery
the famous Bull-Headed Lyre front piece within the exhibition Iraq's Ancient Past: Rediscovering Ur's Royal Cemetery
a wooden Elk flute created by the Dakota people of the Great Plains ca. 1880 on display in the Penn Museum's newest exhibition, Native American Voices—The People Here and Now.
The day's lineup also includes international musical crafts that enable families to take their favorite rhythms home.
KSHOPS FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES

Samba music has long been a symbol of Brazilian culture and Carnival. At 1:00 pm, Alex Shaw, arts educator, and Director of the Philadelphia-based Brazilian band Alô Brasil, leads guests through the foundations of samba and samba-reggae rhythms.

Lenny Seidman of the Spoken Hand Percussion Orchestra leads a tabla workshop at 1:30 pm. The tabla consists of a pair of hand drums, and is a common accompaniment for Indian folk music.

At 2:00 pm, ODUNDE365 percussion instructor Saeed Samad presents the djembe drum from West Africa, and demonstrates rhythms and techniques for guests to follow. ODUNDE 365 is an initiative that expands the signature ODUNDE festival into yearlong cultural programming and events.

The bodhrán is an open-ended Irish frame drum. By placing one hand inside the drum head, a musician can control the drum's pitch. At 2:30 pm, bodhrán instructor and award-winning musician Dave Hanson teaches guests how to achieve the sound they want from the instrument.

Joe Tayoun, internationally acclaimed Middle Eastern percussionist, and creator of an instructional Middle Eastern music app, leads a drum circle at 3:00 pm. A musician since childhood, his range includes Arabic, Turkish, Greek, Armenian, and Israeli music.

Vaughnda Hilton, Founder and Director of the Native Nations Dance Theater, explains the meaning behind the drum, different rhythms, and singing various Native American songs. Guests can practice rhythms from different nations, including Ms. Hilton's Blackfeet, Seminole, and Creek heritage.

At 3:45 pm, visitors gather for a spectacular drum circle finale, closing the afternoon in a medley of drums, cultures, and goodwill.

Co-sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania's 2013-2014 Year of Sound. Free with Museum admission.
$15 general adult admission
$13 senior citizens (65 and above)
$10 children 6 to 17 and full-time students with college ID
FREE Museum members, active U.S. military personnel, children 5 and under,
and PennCard holders (Penn faculty, staff, and students)

DRUMS AROUND THE WORLD 2014 SCHEDULE
1:00 - 1:30 pm – Samba and Brazilian Drum Workshop
1:30 - 2:00 pm – North Indian Tabla Demonstration
2:00 - 2:30 pm – African Djembe Drum Workshop
2:30 - 3:00 pm – Irish Bodhrán Workshop
3:00 - 3:30 pm – Middle Eastern Drumming
3:30 - 4:00 pm – Native American Drum Demonstration and Drum Circle Finale

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
3260 South Street | Philadelphia, PA 19104 | (215) 898-4000 |