CONNECTING THE (MuSICAL) DOTS

AFRICA: “WORK WORK WORK”

REGION: Africa

“Work songs,” starting in Africa and going everywhere. (More.)


THE CARIBBEAN: “CALYPSO WAR — WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?”

REGION: The Caribbean

Two poets “fight” by turning a phrase. (More.)


EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA: “MUSIC THAT TRAVELS”

REGION: East and Southeast Asia

(Korean Trot, Japanese Boogie Woogie, Sri Lankan Calypso, Finnish Tango and Bunny Hop)–When music appears in unexpected places. (More.)


EASTERN EUROPE: “ACCORDION (AND ON AND ON.…)”

REGION: Eastern Europe

Why are there accordions everywhere? (More.)


LATIN AMERICA: “Africa? Meet Spain. (And Portugal. And France.)”

REGION: Latin America

Africa’s musical influence on “the New World.”


OCEANIA AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: “HYMNS AND HERS”

REGION: Oceania and the Pacific Islands

Music with a mission. (More.)


SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: “MANNED DRONES”

REGION: South and Central Asia

Music class meets the drone.


U.S. and CANADA: “ALL THAT JAZZ”

COUNTRY: U.S. and Canada

Swing dancing rules the world.


WEST ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST: “STRING THEORY”

COUNTRY: West Asia and the Middle East

Actually, the violin rules the world. (More.)


WESTERN EUROPE: “THE WHOLE WORLD IN OUR HANDS”

COUNTRY: Western Europe

From Flamenco clapping to “dancing with our hands.” (More.)