Lesson 4: Around in a Circle

We had another seven people for this one. I finally started to get the swing of things. We started with a rhythm track and added one kalimba at a time, me first, to the circle until we were all playing together. My mistake: I should have started with something that was more space than notes so that other people would get the idea that they could play it simple. Next time!

Next, while still in a circle, we went through the 8 note G major scale (7 different notes, repeat the G at the end). After we all knew what the G scale was about, we took turns, two at a time, playing the scales together. Person A started, and 8 beats later person B added their notes while person A was playing a second go through (each person plays two scales). Then 8 beats later person C adds in, person B is still playing, but person A had stopped. Continue around the circle. What made this really cool was the fact that we didn't have to play the same scale, or the same direction. For example, person A could start with the upper octave G major scale, and then person B could join in with a parallel scale, shifted up or down a tine. This exercise teaches us about the scales, but also about harmony, which is easy on kalimba.

The harmonizing scale exercise: the line on the left is the G major scale, first in the upper octave and then in the lower octave. The line on the left, to be played at the same time, will harmonize with the line on the left.

Next, we sort of drifted through about six different songs, including: Are You Sleeping?
Joy to the World
N-E-S-T-L-E-S Nestles makes the very best
White Coral Bells
Do you hear what I hear
Gilligan's Island

Glen Davis showed us his really cool method for hitting the kalimba tines quickly with his fingers, as you would a drum. Jim Gates brought a well thought-out song and even wrote it out using the blank tab available at the kalimba klub. Notice how this song goes back and forth between 4/4 and 5/4 time.

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