Play percussion: Calypso solèy levé
In this unit, we explore a contemporary and popular form of instrumental calypso. It is the sound of the carnival, warming up and a call out to people on the streets to move and smile in joyful anticipation of the carnival fun to come. Calypso solèy levé (pronounced ‘lev – ee’) is designed as a performance piece, with scope for the use of hand drums and/or cajons in conjunction with tuned and handheld percussion. The piece includes a section of solo phrases and a unison ‘break’ – both these elements are typical in percussion ensemble playing and give opportunity for shared moments of power and wonder.
Over the course of the unit we will study the following:
- Lesson 1: Introduction – beat and rhythm with a focus on body percussion.
- Lesson 2: Beat and rhythm with a focus on handheld percussion.
- Lesson 3: Hand drumming – the calypso clave.
- Lesson 4: Hand drumming and handheld percussion – working with the backing track.
- Lesson 5: Tuned percussion – key notes in the chord structure.
- Lesson 6: Playing the accompaniments – Rehearse.
- Lesson 7: Playing the accompaniments – Performance.
- Lesson 8: Improvising on the G major pentatonic.
- Lesson 9: Learn to play the melody – 1.
- Lesson 10: Learn to play the melody – 2.
- Lesson 11: Rehearse the structure, melody, and accompaniments.
- Lesson 12: Ensemble performance.
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