THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Music is definitely a big part of the lives of Dominican children, it is in their soul.  They light up with even the mention of music.  We began our music classes this week with a local teacher Fran from Puerto Plata.  The kids made drums with recycled plastic gallon jugs. It was a noisy day......but great fun!  This week we will make güiras, a typical Dominican instrument that looks like a cheese grater!  This link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCira will show you a photo and the actual sound of a güira.  We will make our  güiras with a recycled can of baby milk.  We'll hammer holes with a nail, evenly perforated and put the serrated edges on one side. The metal will be raised, and they will be played with a hair pic or a stiff metal brush.  Shortly we will have a class full of professional "Güireros."!