Composer: BURROWS, MARK

Voicing:     KIT W/CD

Grades 2-6. So often, world drumming resources are more about the world and less about the drumming. While those books definitely belong on your shelves (particularly Planet Jams, our contribution to this genre,) sometimes we just want the music. That s where Just Jams comes in. Taking as his starting point fundamental rhythms from various countries and regions, Mark Burrows has built engaging and accessible jams that can be used to strengthen students rhythm skills, in drum circles, or as a change of pace on a choir concert or other performance. Meaningful speech parts for each jam are included, allowing for a teaching process of speech to body percussion to playing, as are suggestions for developing each jam into a performance piece. Diverse in its rhythms the usual suspects from West Africa, Brazil and Cuba are included, as are Gaelic, Hawaiian, and Rock'n' Roll rhythms, and even spoken word slams to Mother Goose rhymes, to name just a few. Just Jams is also diverse in instrumentation, featuring jams for Orff instruments, Boomwhackers and sound effects in addition to those for drums and other non-pitched percussion instruments.