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About the Book

Through music, we are brought together and we can gain a better understanding of people from all corners of the Earth.

We call this series “I Don’t Read Music” since we are targeting beginners of all ages: children, teens, parents, and grandparents.

Getting to know music from around the world can be one of the most exciting and appealing ways to be introduced to new and different cultures. Music is a universal language, meaning that it transcends borders and opens up an entirely new way of thinking.

This book includes 53 popular, rhythmic, and easy-to-play folk songs and melodies from all over the world. Since this book is aimed at the absolute beginner without any knowledge of reading music, we do not use the classical music staff and do not show the note duration. Each song here is written without classic musical notation but only with circles and numbered notes inside. First of all, we recommend following the QR-code which you will find on each page, listening to the song on YouTube, and then trying to repeat what is heard in the recordings. It will help to understand the rhythm pattern and duration.

Keep in mind, that folk music traditionally is not learned from sheet music or notes. Instead, it is learned by repetition and through being passed from generation to generation. We believe in this method of teaching, which is easier and more enjoyable. For learning purposes, all songs have been simplified and adapted, especially for 8-key drums.

So you can use an 8-tongue drum, but tongue drums are very different. Some may have three C notes and not a single F notes. Others have several chromatic notes included. So while it is based on the regular major diatonic scale, it does not have the typical CDEFGAB arrangement: it can have missing notes, a few additional bass, and treble notes placed further away from the main group, or the notes arranged in a variety of ways. So if your drum has less than one octave of keys, you may need to skip some songs. Unfortunately, it is impossible to accommodate songs for all kinds of tongue drums in one book.

This book includes complete melodies as well as substantial segments of uncomplicated, famous traditional folk songs from 30 different countries. Their goal was to assist you in acquainting you, your kids, or students with the musical traditions of diverse nations and cultures.

About the Author

Helen Winter

I'm an early child development therapist and an early development kids center owner. Additionally, I have authored a comprehensive program that utilizes music, activities, and games to promote early childhood development. I develop teaching materials for early solfeggio designed for various musical instruments, with a specific focus on children or beginner adults. Furthermore, I am keenly interested in exploring folk and ethnic music.