Creative Practices
The Mayan People – Music
Aim:
- How did the Mayans use music? (Discipline)
- How can actors explore Mayan religion through music? (Theatre)
Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to:
- Name Mayan instruments (Discipline)
- Play Mayan music (Theatre)
Standards:
- NYS TH 1
- NYS SC 2.4b
Benchmarks:
- Theatre Making: Acting Students continue to activate and expand their imaginations, and explore the analytical, concentration and process skills associated with acting
- Theatre Making: Acting Students exercise and refine the actor’s instrument- the body, voice and mind- through ongoing exploration of the physical, vocal, characterization and staging components of acting
- Theatre Making: Connecting Theater to the Arts and Other Disciplines: Students deepen their relationship to theater by exploring elements of theater that are shared with other art forms and disciplines.
Do Now/WARM-UP – Students will listen to ancient Mayan music
Rationale: Music was important in the Mayan culture. Music was used in many of their rituals.
Prep Activity – Students will revisit the class system of the Mayans and create musical pieces from a variety of instruments used by the Mayans
Rationale: The amount of time spent playing music depended upon a Mayan’s place in society
Main Activity – Create a Dance for the Sun and the Moon – The Mayans celebrated a night of 1,000 dances – The Monkey, the Grandfather, the Shadow of the Trees, the Caterpillar. In groups students will incorporate music with the dances they previously learned
Rationale: The Mayan dances that were performed during rituals were done to music, this is an essential part of the Mayan religion
Reflection – Share Out
Students will share their music enhanced dances with the class
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How did the Mayans use music?
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How can actors express the Mayan culture?
