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Harmony with Drones

Module by: Catherine Schmidt-Jones

Summary: Activities that introduce this simplest kind of harmony.

Materials and Preparation

  • If you can, find a recording of music that uses drones and a CD or tape player to play it for the class. Bagpipe music or classical music from India will probably be the easiest to find, but some more uncommon instruments from various music traditions, like the Appalachian dulcimer (not the hammered dulcimer) may also have drones.
  • Decide on a song to teach your students that has a drone part in the voice or on instruments. Use "Sarasponda" if you like.
  • If it would be helpful, have copies of the song for the students.
  • Be ready to teach the students the melody and the drone part(s). Here is the melody to Sarasponda with and without the drone part.
  • If the drone is on an instrument, have instruments for at least several students to play.
Figure 1
Sarasponda
Sarasponda (sarasponda.png)

Procedure

  1. Explain to your students that a drone is the simplest kind of harmony. The melody is played along with one or two notes that never (or very rarely) change.
  2. Play your example recording for them. Can they identify the drone notes by humming or singing them along with the instruments?
  3. Hand out the copies of the song you are going to teach them. Teach them all the melody, going over it as many times as necessary until they are confident.
  4. Now teach them the drone part and let a small part of the class sing or play the drone part while the rest sing the melody again. Let them all take a turn with the drone.

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