The following Power Point is used in the General Music classroom to focus on the Asian music culture. Additional audio and video clips are used to enhance this presentation.

As soon as the ancient music of China, Japan and India is heard, it is immediately recognized as ORIENTAL

music.

One is aware that it sounds “out of tune”.

Also, a difference in the kind of instruments used and the tone quality of the singers is noticed.

Why does Asian music have it’s unique sound and instruments?

Isolation (in this case) means there weren’t many visitors

or outside influences on the way they do things.

SO, being isolated resulted in unique musical traditions.

ISOLATIONISOLATION

Asia is a continent made up of

different countries.

We are going to concentrate on 2 countries of Asia and their music.

India Japan

Japan has many different instruments.

One in particular is the Koto.

Koto is a 13 stringed instrument.

The 13 strings are

supported by 13 bridges.

The musician tunes

the strings by

moving the bridges.

India has its own unique instruments.

One in particular is the Sitar.

It is a plucked, stringed

instrument.

Has Asian music

influenced modern-day composers

and/or musicians?

The Beatles traveled to India once.

They became enchanted with the Indian sitar (especially George Harrison).

George incorporated the Sitar into several Beatles pieces.

The singer faces an antagonistic relationship with a woman.

McCartney himself claims the final line of

the song implies that the singer burned

the home of the girl.

Describing a boat trip through a fantastic land of "rocking horse people", "newspaper taxis" ,and "marshmallow pies" .

HONG HONG KONG KONG PHOOEPHOOE

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Asian Music NotesAsian Music Notes

1. ISOLATION led to Asian countries (like Japan and India) to have unique sounding music.

2. Japanese instrument: KOTO

3. Indian instrument: Sitar