Little Bird x Mila Dreams, designed by Sun Yeo.

What is the Korean instrument gayageum?

Where is Korea? Who are Korean Americans?

How do melodies use sounds from nature?

Can I step to the big beats in 6/8?

 

Little Bird: Birdcalls and the Gayageum

Lesson 1

HISTORY & CULTURE

15 MIN

20 MIN

Little Bird

MUSIC LISTENING

Bird Design on Gayageum, photo by Gianina Ferreyra.

Bird Design on Gayageum, photo by Gianina Ferreyra.

The Gayageum

15 minutes

Path 1

Joyce Kwon Playing Gayageum, photo by Gianina Ferreyra.

Gayageum

Fly, by Jeffrey Christopher J. via Dribbble.com.

Korea

Where is Korea?

Spinning Globe, illustrated by Jasmina El Bouamraoui and Karabo Poppy Moletsane, animated by Kunal Sen and Tisha Pillai. CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The World

World Map, via freevectormaps.com.

Asia

World Map, via freevectormaps.com.

Korea

World Map, via freevectormaps.com.

Korea to the US

World Map, via freevectormaps.com.

Let's Chat!

Language

Music

  • Who are Korean Americans?
  • Where is Korea?
  • What is a gayageum?

Learning Checkpoint

End of Path 1: Where Will You Go Next?

Return to Pathway Homepage:

Hear Us Out! Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and their Music

Advance to the next History/Culture Path:

What is Mottainai?

COMING SOON

COMING SOON

Experiencing Birdcalls

15+ minutes

Path 2

Korean magpie in Daejeon, photo by Yoo Chung. CC-BY-SA-2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.

Little Bird Icon, designed by Joyce Kwon.

What Sounds Do Birds Make?

Engaged Listening: Birdcalls

1   2   3   2   2   3

Let's Move Together!

Little Bird

Engaged Listening with Joyce: "Little Bird"

Create

Make up your own!

Copy.

Listen.

  • Can I clap the big beats in 6/8?
  • Can I copy and create bird sounds?
  • Can I sing the “ssuk-guk” in “Little Bird”?

Learning Checkpoint

End of Path 2: Where Will You Go Next?

Return to Pathway Homepage:

Hear Us Out! Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and their Music

COMING SOON

Listening for Little Birds

20+ minutes

Path 3

Little Birds, designed by Sun Yeo.

Little Bird Icon, designed by Joyce Kwon.

5 Little Birds

Attentive and Engaged Listening: 5 Little Birds

4 Little Birds

Engaged Listening: 3 Little Birds

Engaged Listening: 3 Pajaritos

Attentive Listening: Same & Different

2 Little Birds

Fly, by Jeffrey Christopher J. via Dribbble.com.

Attentive Listening: 1 Little Bird

Attentive Listening: Korean Bird Song

Same

Different

  • What are some musical characteristics in "Little Bird" and "Saetaryeong" (and other songs in this component)?
  • What are some similarities and differences between "Little Bird" and "Saetaryeong"?

Learning Checkpoint

End of Path 3 and Lesson 1: Where Will You Go Next?

Return to Pathway Homepage:

Hear Us Out! Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and their Music

Continue to Lesson 2:

Mottainai

Discover Something New!

Jeong-ak – Music of the Korean Court 

Music of the Asian Royal Courts Pathway, Lesson 3

COMING SOON!

COMING SOON!

COMING SOON

Lesson 1 Media Credits

Audio courtesy of​

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

 

Video courtesy of

Sun Yeo

Joyce Kwon

 

Images courtesy of

Sun Yeo

Joyce Kwon

Gianina Ferreyra

 

 

 

© 2023 Smithsonian Institution. Personal, educational, and non-commercial uses allowed; commercial rights reserved. See Smithsonian terms of use for more information.

This project received Federal support from the Asian Pacific American Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

For full bibliography and media credits, see Lesson 1 landing page.