FRG26 CAE Respect Diversity Discover Caribbean Musics

As part of the Erasmus project, middle school students participated in a Caribbean music discovery activity led by music teacher . The aim of this session was to take students on a journey through the rhythms, sounds, and musical traditions of the various Caribbean islands, while developing their musical listening skills and cultural awareness. To conduct this activity, several YouTube videos served as teaching materials. Students were able to listen to and observe different musical styles such as zouk, reggae, calypso, salsa, bouyon, and shatta, which are very popular today in Guadeloupe and the French Antilles. The videos allowed students to discover emblematic Caribbean instruments, such as percussion, traditional drums, maracas, steel drums, congas, as well as the electronic sounds used in contemporary urban music. The students also discovered artists and musical trends currently very popular in the French West Indies, particularly dancehall, shatta, and bouyon, which play a significant role in the musical culture of young people in Guadeloupe. Meryl and Maureen are among the artists contributing to the international reach of these modern Caribbean music genres. Through listening, the students learned to recognize the characteristic rhythms of these musical styles and to understand the importance of music in Caribbean culture. Classroom discussions fostered curiosity, the expression of personal impressions, and comparisons with other musical styles familiar to the students. The playlists and videos used also helped to illustrate the evolution of Caribbean music, between traditions and contemporary urban influences. This cultural and interactive activity fully aligns with the objectives of the Erasmus project by encouraging openness to the world, the discovery of European and international cultural heritage, and intercultural exchange.