In the Junior Music classes we explore some of these questions by taking the countries of China, Japan, India and Korea, and considering some of the concepts, such as Pitch and Tone Colour/Instruments.

Pitch includes the tunes, and sound related accompaniments to the songs and dance music of each country. Tone Colour is the magic word for "What is making that weird sound?"

We find that the instruments of each culture have unique sound qualities. It is through this that we can say when we hear the sound of the sitar: "I know that sound, it is an Indian string instrument." The musical basis of "PITCH" is the height or depth of a sound and the pattern in which it is organised. This is unique to each style of music whether Western or Asian. Now with "TONE COLOUR", even the use of the human voice differs in song styles in Australian Chinese and Indian songs. Try matching singing in a movie to its country of origin.

Instruments

Indian unique percussion and wind instruments are of special interest. For example in the percussion section, the drums: the MRDANGA and the 2 drums which are played together: the BAYA and the TABLA. The PUNGI which is the snake charmers music is a bit like Scottish Bagpipes. This is one of the wind instruments.

In China and Korea instruments can be made of THREAD, BAMBOO, WOOD, LEATHER, STONE, METAL and GOURD. These materials give the instruments a special sound quality.

Japanese instruments are mainly string, wind and percussion. A special favourite is the KOTO which is a plucked string instrument. The KOTO can often be heard in Japanese shops and movies.