• PERFORMING
  • Kenyan Folk Songs

This sub-strand focuses on the performance and appreciation of Kenyan folk songs.

Key Concepts:

• Characteristics of Kenyan Folk Songs:
  • Traditional melodies and rhythms.
  • Storytelling and cultural significance.
  • Use of indigenous languages.
  • Often associated with specific occasions or communities.

People singing and dancing to a folk song in traditional attire 

• Folksongs:
  • Solo performances.
  • Group performances.
• Choice:
  • Gender-specific songs.
  • Age-specific songs.
  • Occasion-specific songs.
  • Use of appropriate costumes, props, and artifacts.

Traditional Kenyan costumes and musical instruments 

• Performance Aspects:
  • Singing (tone and diction).
  • Idiom (cultural context).
  • Synchrony (togetherness).
  • Transitions (smooth changes).
  • Instrumentation (use of instruments).
  • Projection and diction (clarity).
  • Expressiveness (emotion).
  • Etiquette (performance behavior).

People performing a folk song with instruments 

Suggested Learning Experiences:

• Listen to or watch performances of Kenyan folk songs and discuss the characteristics: 

People watching a folk song performance 

• Source from virtual or physical spaces to select Kenyan folk songs:
• Source for and select instruments, costumes, props, and artifacts, make-up and décor:
• Take up different roles in the performance (soloist, instrumentalists, group singers):
• Carry out rehearsals observing rehearsal etiquette and safety procedures:
• Perform a Kenyan group folk song before an audience, applying the appropriate performance aspects:
• Record and share the performances with peers for feedback: Practical Application:
• Listening to and analyzing recorded folk songs.
• Researching and selecting folk songs from different Kenyan communities.
• Practicing and performing folk songs in solo and group settings.
• Using appropriate costumes, props, and instruments.           Recording and sharing performances for feedback.

2.2 Western Style Solo Songs

This sub-strand focuses on the performance of Western-style solo vocal music.

Key Concepts:  Performance Style: 

 Understanding the specific style of different genres (lieder, arias, musical theatre songs).

Singer performing an aria from an opera 

• Accuracy:
  • Pitch accuracy (singing the correct notes).
  • Rhythmic accuracy (singing the correct rhythms).
• Performance Directions:
  • Tempo (speed of the music).
  • Dynamics (volume of the music).
  • Repeats and reiterations (following musical instructions).

Performance Techniques: 

• Phrasing (shaping musical lines).
  • Posture (body position).
  • Diction (clarity of words).
  • Poise (stage presence).
  • Musicianship (musical understanding).

Suggested Learning Experiences:

• Listen to or watch live or recorded performances of lieder, arias from operas and oratorios, and solo songs from musicals for familiarization: 
• Discuss the performance practice of Western solo songs such as lieder, arias, folk songs:
• Review videos of Western solo songs to identify their styles of singing:
• Execute various vocal styles applied in singing Western solo songs:
• Select acknowledging the source suitable Western solo songs for performance:
• Perform selected Western solo songs before a given audience, while observing the performance techniques: 

Person performing a solo song on stage 

• Use digital devices to record their performances of Western solo songs and upload them to their digital portfolios: 

Digital audio recorder 

• Evaluate performances by self and others and respectfully give feedback:

Suggested Key Inquiry Questions:

• 1. How should one prepare to perform a Western solo song?
• 2. Why are vocal techniques important in Western solo songs?

Practical Application:

• Listening to and analyzing recordings of Western solo songs.
• Practicing vocal techniques such as phrasing, diction, and posture.
• Learning and performing songs in different Western solo styles.
• Recording and evaluating performances.
• Giving and receiving constructive feedback.

Someone practicing vocal exercises 

2.3 Kenyan Indigenous Musical Instrument (Solo Performance)

This sub-strand focuses on the solo performance of Kenyan indigenous musical instruments.

Key Concepts:

• Indigenous Musical Instruments:
  • Fiddle (Orutu).
  • Lyre (Nyatiti).
  • Harp (Obokano).
  • Flute (Engorare).
  • Drum or drum set (Engalabi, Isukuti).

Suggested Learning Experiences:

• Listen or watch performances involving Kenyan indigenous musical instruments to determine how sound is produced: 
• Familiarise with a selected Kenyan indigenous musical instrument to identify its parts and handling: 

Someone holding a specific instrument and pointing out its parts 

• Search responsibly for videos and watch or interact with resource persons to learn the techniques of tuning, playing, and maintaining the instrument: 

Person watching an instructional video on how to play an instrument 

• Practice the techniques of tuning of the instrument: 

Someone tuning an indigenous musical instrument 

• Rehearse playing a selected Kenyan indigenous musical instrument to master the playing techniques: 

Someone practicing playing an instrument 

• Play tunes or rhythmic patterns from the cultural idiom of the chosen instrument using the appropriate playing techniques before an audience: 

Someone playing a solo performance of an indigenous instrument 

• Record and share music with parents, guardians, and fellow learners for feedback and upload to a digital portfolio: 

Recording device 

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