2. Gorillas and monkeys
Gorillas form a band
As monkeys, holding hands,
Go trooping through the jungle in the rain
As monkeys, holding hands,
Go trooping through the jungle in the rain
Fascinations
Scientists have shown that gorillas live in complex social groups (bands), display individual personalities, make and use tools, and show emotions like grief and compassion. Some gorillas in captivity have learned to use sign language to communicate with humans. We shouldn't be surprised though - gorillas are one of our closest living relatives, and they share at least 95% of their DNA with humans.
Scientists have shown that gorillas live in complex social groups (bands), display individual personalities, make and use tools, and show emotions like grief and compassion. Some gorillas in captivity have learned to use sign language to communicate with humans. We shouldn't be surprised though - gorillas are one of our closest living relatives, and they share at least 95% of their DNA with humans.
Musicking
Here is a snapshot of a wet, languid day in the jungle, so swing in and swing out again. The lazy and down-beat feel reflects the lyrics of the refrain as not every day in the jungle is about high octane activity; some days you just have to hang out and chatter. Aim to learn the refrain in a single session and notice how it tips down the first time and up for the repeat. Why not introduce different shakers of your singers’ choosing and play crotchet beats or find your own rhythms? But do not stop singing; multi-tasking is a great skill to develop in music-making. The opening and closing sections will work well unaccompanied with a glockenspiel taking over the piano solo. The central section is a dialogue between gorillas (strong and steady) and monkeys (madly scurrying around). Singers have to change character quickly! Check out the physical and vocal warm-up routines below.
Here is a snapshot of a wet, languid day in the jungle, so swing in and swing out again. The lazy and down-beat feel reflects the lyrics of the refrain as not every day in the jungle is about high octane activity; some days you just have to hang out and chatter. Aim to learn the refrain in a single session and notice how it tips down the first time and up for the repeat. Why not introduce different shakers of your singers’ choosing and play crotchet beats or find your own rhythms? But do not stop singing; multi-tasking is a great skill to develop in music-making. The opening and closing sections will work well unaccompanied with a glockenspiel taking over the piano solo. The central section is a dialogue between gorillas (strong and steady) and monkeys (madly scurrying around). Singers have to change character quickly! Check out the physical and vocal warm-up routines below.
Learning moves
Use the posture and mannerisms of primates to warm up your body and get ready for singing. Picture an agile monkey - bend your knees slightly and bounce out the tension in your body. Now breathe in and swing your arms forward and back, looking up and reaching up to the sky as if you were swinging through the trees. Then reach down, bending at the waist, letting your head and arms dangle heavily towards the ground like a gorilla. Allow your arms to hang loose and just dangle there, folded over for a few seconds. Whilst folded, breathe in and out slowly and deeply three times. Roll up slowly and, once upright, breathe in and roll your shoulders backwards and forwards then lift and drop them with a sigh to relax. Clench your fists tight and beat your chest, then flick away the tension in your fingers with an ’aah’.
Now get rid of any tension in your face with a jaw-dropping yawn - bare your teeth gorilla style! Next, screw up your face as tight as you can before showing your fellow monkeys your best cheeky-monkey smile.
Use the posture and mannerisms of primates to warm up your body and get ready for singing. Picture an agile monkey - bend your knees slightly and bounce out the tension in your body. Now breathe in and swing your arms forward and back, looking up and reaching up to the sky as if you were swinging through the trees. Then reach down, bending at the waist, letting your head and arms dangle heavily towards the ground like a gorilla. Allow your arms to hang loose and just dangle there, folded over for a few seconds. Whilst folded, breathe in and out slowly and deeply three times. Roll up slowly and, once upright, breathe in and roll your shoulders backwards and forwards then lift and drop them with a sigh to relax. Clench your fists tight and beat your chest, then flick away the tension in your fingers with an ’aah’.
Now get rid of any tension in your face with a jaw-dropping yawn - bare your teeth gorilla style! Next, screw up your face as tight as you can before showing your fellow monkeys your best cheeky-monkey smile.
To warm up the voice, play around with vocal sounds: ‘loo, lah, lair and lee’ as shown in Monkey busy-ness below and emphasise the mouth shape as you outline the notes of the descending scale of C. Develop in subsequent sessions by raising the starting pitch, changing the vowel sounds and slowing the tempo.
Monkey slides: Pick your starting note and, following the leader of your troop, start with your arms low then swing them high whilst sliding your note through the octave and back down again using one of the loo, lah, lair or lee sounds from before. The key to this exercise is to keep it slow and pay attention to how far you are moving up and down the octave. You can also do this starting on the high note, descending.
Monkey slides: Pick your starting note and, following the leader of your troop, start with your arms low then swing them high whilst sliding your note through the octave and back down again using one of the loo, lah, lair or lee sounds from before. The key to this exercise is to keep it slow and pay attention to how far you are moving up and down the octave. You can also do this starting on the high note, descending.
