Moroccan Melting Pot – North African Scales and Rhythms

Seffarine

Moroccan Melting Pot – North African Scales and Rhythms

This program offered by: Seffarine

In this 3-4 day residency, singer Lamiae Naki and flamenco guitarist/oud player Nat Hulskamp use the sounds and structures of traditional Arabic and North African music to teach compositional concepts of intention, progression, tension and resolution. Students are introduced to the many cultures that intersect in Morocco (descendents of “Moorish” pre-Inquisition Spain, Arabic, North and West African, and the indigenous Amazigh people). With instruments from the Middle East and North Africa, participants learn the basic tones of Arabic percussion and how to produce them to create original rhythms on frame drums. Going far beyond using Western music’s major and minor scales to express mood, Arabic music has over 50 maqamat scales that each express a specific feeling (ex: cheerful, sad, tense). Students will be introduced to examples of maqamat on the oud (the Arabic precursor to the lute and guitar). Sessions are taught by two teaching artists.

Through the sessions, students will progress from accompanying Lamiae and Nat on frame drums to using their new musical vocabulary, original and traditional rhythms, and a few words in Arabic to compose a new song through their chosen progression of maqamat.

The Arabic and Tifinagh alphabets (language of Lamiae’s Amazigh heritage) are introduced and referenced during the residency, and depending on the class’s area of focus, students could write their own names in Arabic or learn more Arabic and/or Tamazight vocabulary.

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Details

Program Model: In Class

Art Form: Music

Curriculum Connections: Community Building, Language Arts, Social Justice, Social Studies, World Cultures

Grades: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, K, Pre-K

Program Requirements: Two chairs without armrests. Need amplification (2 microphones on boom stands) for large spaces or groups. Can provide PA for additional fee.

Instruction Language(s): Arabic, English, French

Min. Residency Sessions/Classroom: 5

Seffarine

About the Artist

Seffarine

Moroccan singer Lamiae Naki and flamenco guitarist/Arabic oud player Nat Hulskamp of the group Seffarine embrace and extend Morocco's musical crossroad of Arabic, Iberian and West African cultures. Their original music is deeply rooted in their backgrounds in Arab-Andalusi and flamenco music and has led them perform at prestigious events and venues around the world, like the Chicago World Music Festival and Lotus Fest, winning over audiences from Indonesia to Spain. They have brought their musical vision and cultural knowledge to community audiences and schools across the US. Seffarine takes its name from the ancient metalworking square in Lamiae's hometown of Fes, Morocco, which is famous for the complex rhythms that ring out from the blacksmiths' hammers, and where her family is well known as masters continuing the tradition today.

"They held my audience captivated both at the engagement activity and at their concert. I have heard lots of positive feedback in the two days since the show asking to bring them back." -Stephanie Wenning, Del Norte Association for Cultural Awareness

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Program Costs

Please note that the cost of a program is determined based on a variety of different factors including number of sessions, planning hours needed and material costs. Please contact Arts for Learning NW for help determining the actual cost of your programs. Email us at [email protected] or call 503-225-5900, ext 705

Delivery Method	Type	Cost	Description
In Class	Teacher Workshop	263.00	A 90 minute workshop for teachers.
In Class	Planning Meeting	71.00	An in person planning meeting with partnering teachers is required for residencies.
In Class	Prep Hours	71.00	Time spent on activities in support of the program (e.g. setting up/cleaning a classroom, research, curriculum development, etc.). Expect 30-60 mins prep per day.
In Class	Additional Planning	71.00	Additional planning time with teachers or volunteers, etc.
In Class	Culminating Event	81.00	Artist time to oversee a student performance, gallery event, etc.
In Class	Residency Session	188.00	Residency session prices are based on a 50 minute session. Some artists may prefer different session lengths and will pro-rate the cost.
In Class	Mileage/Travel Costs		IRS rate per mile round-trip from the 97206 ZIP code in Portland. This program is available within 75 miles. Greater distances possible with additional fees such as lodging.
In Class	Family Arts Night Workshop	225.00	A 90 minute workshop for students and families, typically in the evening or on weekends.