CHINATOWN

Lesson 2

Teaching Artist: Evan Harris

This is the second lesson from the New York Stories Course. Students will visit Manhattan’s Chinatown to learn about Chinese immigration to the United States and the rich history of Chinese culture, including musical traditions. Then students will perform a rhythmic accompaniment to a Chinese traditional folk song.

SUMMARY

  • Students will be able to summarize important information about the community in Manhattan’s Chinatown.

  • Students will be able to perform a rhythm which accompanies a traditional Chinese folk song.

OBJECTIVE

MATERIALS

EXPLORE

  1. Invite students to close their eyes and listen to an excerpt of the Dizi in Concert [0:00 - 1:00]. Ask: What do you notice about this music? What kind of musical instrument does it sound like: drum, violin, piano, trumpet or flute? Tell students that today they will learn about traditional Chinese music and its importance in New York City.

  2. Distribute the New York Stories Travel Diary. Allow students a moment to personalize the diary. Tell students they will use the diary as they travel through New York, drawing and recording important facts about another culture.

  3. Play the first part of the video New York Stories: Manhattan’s Chinatown [0:00 - 5:27]. Allow time for students to record facts in their diary through words or drawings. 

  4. Ask students to draw a picture of themselves playing the Dizi, using this photo of a musician playing the Dizi and this Diagram of a Dizi as a guide, with the following criteria:

  • The Dizi has 5-8 holes.

  • The Dizi is played horizontally, to one side.

  • The musician blows air across the opening in front of his or her mouth.

  • A small, tissue-like piece of bamboo is positioned between the musician’s mouth and the holes for the fingers.

LEARN

  1. Introduce the concept of an “ensemble” to students. An ensemble is a group of musicians who perform together. Ensembles are used in music all over the world and are often called a band, orchestra, chorus, or choir. In these groups, performers use different instruments, parts, or voices to create an entire musical world. Each musician’s role is significant to the performance. Play the second part of the video New York Stories: Manhattan’s Chinatown [5:27 - 7:36].

  2. Rehearse the rhythmic accompaniment to Gong Xi Fa Cai as an ensemble from the video New York Stories: Manhattan’s Chinatown [6:08 - 6:29]. Model clapping with precision and practice until the rhythmic accompaniment simulates an ensemble.

  3. Divide the class into two groups. While the rhythmic accompaniment from New York Stories: Manhattan’s Chinatown [6:08 - 6:29] is audible, ask one group to count “1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4,” etc. and clap with each number to match the beat of Gong Xi Fa Cai. Ask the other group to clap the rhythmic accompaniment as demonstrated in the video. Then reverse each group’s role and repeat the performance.

PERFORM+SHARE

  1. Record a class ensemble performance of Gong Xi Fa Cai from New York Stories: Manhattan’s Chinatown [6:32 - 7:24]. 

  2. Scan students’ Dizi self-portraits and upload to S’Cool Sounds Padlet.

  3. Optional: Invite students to create their own Cantonese Opera at home. Tell students in the next lesson they will visit the Bronx.