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
Component 1
Joyce Kwon Playing Gayageum, photo by Gianina Ferreyra.
Gayageum
Fly, by Jeffrey Christopher J. via Dribbble.com.
Korea
Where is Korea?
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 Component 1: Where Will You Go Next?
Experiencing Birdcalls
15+ minutes
Component 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: "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 Component 2: Where Will You Go Next?
Listening for Little Birds
20+ minutes
Component 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 Component 3 and Lesson 1: Where Will You Go Next?
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!
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.