Culture and Music from Chile

 

On Thursday 15^th May, students from years 8 and 9 took part in a workshop focussing on life and music in Chile. The session formed part of the teaching of PSHE this term, in which students are learning about different cultures.

 

Professional musicians, Rachel Pantin and Mauricio Venegas-Astorga shared information about this country, with its many contrasts in landscape and climate.  The style of the music in Chile changes from area to area, becoming increasingly lively, the nearer one gets to the warmer, northern part of the country.

 

Students looked at photos of the landscape and listened carefully to descriptions of Chile. They joined in making music with traditional Latin American instruments, including panpipes, the bombo drum and the charango guitar, which is made from the shell of an armadillo. However, it was made it clear that no animals were killed in the making of musical instruments!  Mauricio and Rachel explained how instuments were made by hand, using naturally available materials. The workshop was followed by snacks including empanadas, similar to Cornish pasties but with lighter pastry and a spicy filling. These went down as well as the music!

 

Our students enjoyed the session, as shown by some of their comments:

 

I really enjoyed that because of the different countries that they spoke about

 

It was really thrilling

 

It was great to play the instruments

 

 I liked playing the panpipes and seeing the bombo and dancing.

 

Further information about Musiko Musika workshops can be found at musikomusika.org.