Music: Organising Sounds, Listening, Performing, Meter & Rhythm. HSIE, LOTE, SOSE: Cultures, Identities, Languages, Traditions, Customs, Linguistics, Cultural Influence, Diversity, Perceptions and Understanding.
Note: This video is footage of his primary show.
Shekere “pronounced She-Ka-Re” is the name of the African percussion instrument made from the dried fruit of the gourd vine and loosely covered with a wide decorative band of beads. The sound is produced by holding the outer cover of beads in one hand and twisting the gourd across them or simply shaking the entire instrument.
Shekere Kindy samples the various African rhythms (predominantly 6/8 time) produced by the shekere and other percussion instruments. After establishing each beat Jonas adds the vocals to produce the completed song. A number of songs are produced in this way and African links are shown to many well known popular modern songs. While watching and listening to Jonas is always a pleasure there is nothing quite like joining in, and Jonas has just the instruments and offers ample opportunity for your students to demonstrate their musical prowess. With Jonas’s quirky African style, numerous drums and percussion instruments, guitar and uniquely African wood and seed-pod xylophone, Shekere Kindy is both a great exploration into the world of live music and a wonderful glimpse into another culture.
Jonas speaks a number of different languages and teaches students a few new words with the entire audience repeating the African word for a number of the instruments and props he uses. With the retelling of short stories from his childhood of lions and their prey, life in Ghana and his journey from Africa to Australia, students gain an understanding of African culture.
Jonas Tandoh was born in Ghana and has been a full time musician since the age of seventeen. He has played in numerous bands both here and overseas. As a founding member of the group Kalabash, Jonas toured widely supporting bands such as Osibisa and Ziggy Marley. Jonas is also a composer of many recorded songs and has been touring into schools for over twenty years.
Jonas really engaged all of the children. He was funny and told us a story about how to be kind to our friends and our friends will be nice to us. He also incorporated all instruments in his story and allowed some of the childrens music. The children loved dancing and we all enjoyed the African music. Thank you Jonas! Jonas was wonderful. All children really enjoyed his show! We learnt how to say words in his native language, had the opportunity to play the instruments and danced to the drums!
Michelle Williams. Glenmore Park Preschool. Glenmore Park. NSW.
The show was very engaging, interesting and age appropriate. The children were very engaged throughout the entire show and had a really enjoyable time. Jonas was very polite, respectful, engaged the children in the show. Delivered a fantastic performance.
Charlene Tannous. Entrada Montessori Academy. Parramatta. NSW.
Price: $6.60 per child ($6.00 + $0.60 GST) or $396.00 whichever is the greater.
Suitable: 2 to 6 year olds.
Times: Show: 30 minutes. Set up: 40 minutes. Pack up: 40 minutes.
Requires an indoor performing area 4m deep x 5m wide.
Jonas Tandoh: ABN: 97 218 572 766
