Taalas, Pamela Grace B.

Lesson No. 2/Grade 8

Israels Traditional Instruments
I. Objectives
At the end of the class, the students should be able to:
1. Identify the musical instruments of Israel through pictures and listening samples.
2. Perform by playing one example of instrument in class.
3. Value the importance of each instruments from ancient times through a reaction
paper.

II. Content
a) Theme: Israels Traditional Instruments
b) Concept: Musical Instruments of Israel
Shofar and Yobel
Asor
Kinnor and Nebel
Timbrel
Goblet drum
Hasosera
c) Context: Hatikvah (Played in Kinnor)
d) Audio-Visual Aids: Pictures (shofar, asor, kinnor, timbrel, goblet drum),
e) Other Materials: Laptop, whiteboard marker, speaker
f) Reference: The 21st Century MAPEH in Action
http://www.journal33.org/other/html/otinstr.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxOyt5cV5vo (Hatikvah played in
Kinnor)

III. Pre-requisite
1. The students have knowledge about the country of Israel.
2. The students know a little about the instruments.

IV. Instructional Procedure

Teachers Activity
I. Greeting
Good afternoon, students!
How was your weekend?

Students Activity
Good afternoon, Teacher Pamela!
It was fine!

To those who are not here last meeting, I am

Teacher Pamela. In my class, I expect you to
listen to our discussions and participate in all
our class activities.
So, before anything else. Shall we all stand
for prayer?

(Students stand for prayer)

(Teacher leads the prayer)

Amen!

(Students listen to teacher praying)

Ok, you may now take your seats.

(Students take their seats)

Before we have our lesson, we will first

watch the commercials that you have made.
II. Watching of Commercial Projects (30
mins)

(Some students are noisy while watching the

commercial projects)

III. Review of Last Weeks Lesson

Since not all of you are here last week, let us
just review some of the important things
about Israel.
Zum Gali Gali is a traditional song relating
to the formation of the State of Israel,
originating sometime around its creation in
1948. It has a fast tempo with wide melodic
line. It is usually sung with accompaniment
and its a repetitive chant.

(Some students are noisy)

Sarah: (singing) Zum gali gali gali

The name Israel derives from the name given

to Jacob (Genesis 32:29). His 12 sons were
the kernels of 12 tribes that later developed
into the Jewish nation.
Hatikva is the national anthem of Israel. The
title of the national anthem, HATIKVA,
means "The Hope."
(Some students are roaming around the room)
Hatikva expresses the hope of the Jewish
people that they would someday return to the
land of their forefathers as prophesied in the
Hebrew Bible.

Israels music is composed of two major

forces. The Zionist movement which
encouraged the creation and dissemination of
Israeli folk music. And the Political struggle
against Facisim which led many Europeanborn musicians to flee to the holy land.
The two divisions of Jewish Music are
Devotional which is more on vocal music,
while the Secular is a combination of vocal
and instrumental music.
Israels music uses minor keys, their rhythms
have strong off beats and asymmetric meters,
lyrics relate to the Israeli experience.

Kim: Zionist and Facisim!

Aya: Devotional vocal music!

Students: Secular vocal and instrumental
music!

IV. Motivation
I will let you watch a video of one of the
instruments that we will study today.
(Teacher plays video Hatikvah played in
Kinnor)
(Students watch and listen)
V. Lesson Proper
The Land of Israel, cradle of the three
monotheistic religions, has always been the
cultural meeting point of the Middle East, and
especially in the realm of music, one of
humanitys most important art forms.
Many instruments are mentioned in our Book
of Book, the Bible, as is the effect music has
on people. For example, when David played
the lyre, Sauls mood improved. An entire
symphonic orchestral ensemble is alluded to
in the Book of Daniel.
Western music drew most of its instruments
form Eastern culture, developing and
enhancing them to suit its needs.
STRINGED Instruments
Kinnor (Lyre) and Nebel (Harp)

(Students are listening)

A lyre has a body with two arms, which are

joined by a crossbar. The strings stretch from
the body to the crossbar. Harps have a neck at
an angle to the body, either arched (of the
same piece as the body) or angular (the neck
fastened to the body at a near right angle).

Kaye: Wooow!

Kinnor comes from the root to twang.

Nebel means a skin bottle, perhaps
referring to the shape of the sound box.
The main difference between a kinnor and a
nebel might be the size and number of strings.
The 12-string Kinnor is typically played in
the 7 note Aeolian scale in D Major/B Minor.
Only one hand is used to pluck the strings.
The traditional 10-string (Biblical Scale)
Kinnor is tuned and played similarly to the
12-string.
(Students are quiet)
The joyful music of the kinnor was heard in
the temple, as well as during festivities and
banquets. David used this instrument to calm
Sauls spirit.
The nebel was often played with the kinnor or
with other instruments. It was used in the
temple.
Asor
Asor means ten. Some believe nebel asor
refers to a ten-stringed nebel and asor to a
shortened form of the name. Others believe
this term refers to a zither, an instrument with
many strings stretched across a body
(sounding box), either struck (dulcimer) or
plucked (psaltery).

WIND INSTRUMENTS
Shofar (Cornet) and Yobel (Rams Horn)
There is no evidence of any distinction
between these two terms. Shofar is used more

frequently. Usually the horn was a male rams

horn, which has a curved shape and a
relatively wide conical bore. Some were
flattened and straightened with heat.

(Students are becoming noisy)

The horn was sometimes used with other

instruments. Yet it was used chiefly as a
signal instrument in religious and secular
activities. It was used in war. It also
announced the year of the Jubilee.
Hasosera (Trumpet)
This instrument consisted of a straight narrow
tube flared out at one end, not quite a cubit
long. They were usually made of brass or
silver, sometimes gold-plated. The tone was
sharper than the low-pitched shofar, and it
had a limited number of pitches (two or
three).

(Students are listening)

Two long silver trumpets played an important

part in Israels history. Trumpets were used to
assemble the people or the chiefs, to prepare
them for moving camp, or for war, as well as
during feasts and ceremonies.
PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS
Toph (Hand-drum, Timbrel)
Among the instruments of percussion, the
timbrel or hand-drum is the oldest and most
popular. It is very simple, consisting of a
broad or narrow hoop of wood or metal over
which the skin of an animal is stretched.

Mark: It looks like a tambourine, Maam!

The instrument is held high on one hand,

while the performer beats on the drumhead
with the fingers and the back of the other
hand.
Many were light enough for women to use
while dancing. They were used during joyous
occasions and religious celebrations.
Goblet Drum

(Students are noisy)

It is a single head membranophone with a

goblet shaped body used mostly in the Middle
East, North Africa, South Asia, and Eastern
Europe.
There are two main types of goblet drums.
The Egyptian style has rounded edges around
the head, whereas the Turkish style exposes
the edge of the head. The exposed edge
allows closer access to the head so fingersnapping techniques can be done, but the hard
edge discourages the rapid rolls possible with
the Egyptian style.

(Students are becoming noisy)

VI. Conclusion
Since Biblical times, these instruments have
been used in many ways. From David for
comforting Saul, and Miriam using the
timbrel for rejoicing when the people of Israel
have escaped from the bondage of the
Egyptians.
1 Chronicles 13:8. And David and all Israel
played before God with all their might, and
with singing, and with harps, and with
psalteries, and with timbrels, and with
cymbals, and with trumpets.
Before we go, let us have a short quiz.
Please get your music notebooks.

(Students stand and get their music

notebooks)

1. It is very simple, consisting of a broad or

narrow hoop of wood or metal over which the
skin of an animal is stretched.
(Students are taking the quiz)
2. and 3. The two differences of a kinnor and
nebel.
4. A type of goblet drum that exposes the edge
of the head.
5. The tone of this instrument was sharper
than the low-pitched shofar, and it had a
limited number of pitches

Please pass your music notebooks.

(Students pass their notebooks)

Thank you, students for listening and

cooperating in my class. I had a great time
with you.
Goodbye, students!

V. Self-Assessment
1. Did I reach my objectives?
2. Did my students learn through the teaching method I had?
3. Do I need to give more examples and explain them more?

Goodbye, Teacher!