The Bigger The Gong, The Bigger The Sound?

When shopping for a gong, should you go with a large gong for a large sound? Maybe . . .

Generally speaking, the bigger the gongs will have a bigger sound. Also, large gongs have vibratioins that you can feel. At NAMM 2007, a trade show for musical instrument manufacturers, I stood behind a 70 inch gong (yes, that's a gong over 5 feet across!!) while someone else struck it. You can really feel the vibration - it was awesome!

WorldMusicalInstruments.com is now offering some very large gongs, including the 39 1/2 inch wind gong and the massive 70 inch chao gong.

Keep in mind that you don't have to strike a gong real hard. A nice firm strike will product great resonance. For a sustained sound, strike repeatedly in a rapid fashion.

School Assembly Presentation on Musical Instruments from Around the World

WorldMusicalInstruments.com provides presentations at school assemblies and recently provided one at Freeman Elementary School in Aurora IL. Freeman was celebrating Fine Arts Week, and wanted to include music and instruments as part of this celebration. We worked with 2 groups of grades K-5 to listen to music, learn about instruments, and drum in a drum circle.

The music featured ethnic instruments such as the duduk, bloul, shvi, oud, tabla drums, doumbek, ashiko, sitar, and many small percussion instruments. Musical instruments demonstrated include:
djun-djun drum
doumbek drums
ashiko drum
tabla Indian drum set
conga drum
tambourine
Tibetan gong and Chinese wind gong
chick shake eggs
ankle bells
hand cymbals
caxixi Brazilian percussion instrument
bull horn
cuica Brazilian friction drum
bongos
rain stick
bull roarer Australian instrument
shakere
temple blocks
toke
agogo

Then the fun part: drumming. Since each group had about 150 children, it is not practical for everyone to play a drum. However, everyone can clap or pat on their laps, so the children use their "built in" instruments to participate in the drum circle. For groups which include all ages, we learn some basic drumming rhythms, work with volume changes, and have 2 groups play different rhythms at the same time.

We concluded the program with some thoughts toward world peace. The children briefly tried the instruments on their way out of the gym.

Fun was had by all at Freeman Elementary School, and we thank them for inviting us to share their Fine Arts Week celebration.

If the school assembly group consists of just older children, we use more complicated drumming rhythms for the drum circle portion and are able to give the children hands on use of the instruments.

Please consider WorldMusicalInstruments.com for your next school assembly program in the Chicago IL area. We tailor the assembly presentation to your theme, whether it's a focus on a country like Africa, a multi cultural celebration, or a tribute to the fine arts.

Schools Embrace Ethnic Musical Instruments, Buying on School Purchase Orders

This has been a big week for schools to buy ethnic musical instruments. In this one week alone, WorldMusicalInstruments.com has sold musical instruments to schools in California, Missouri, Minnesota, and Illinois. WorldMusicalInstruments.com accepts purchase orders from schools buying musical instruments. That makes the purchasing process easier for the schools, getting the instruments in their hands as soon as possible.

So what instruments do schools buy? Here are some of the small handheld percussion instruments that schools have recently purchased:
- kalimba
- castanets
- maracas
- caxixi, a Brazilian percussion instrument
- singing bowls
- gongs

In addition to small percussion instruments, schools like drums like:
- djembe
- doumbek

Occassionally schools will buy string instruments like:
- lute
- oud

It's great to see school music programs branching out to non-traditional instruments. School children of all ages enjoy learning about instruments that reflect cultures from around the world.