Grade 6Creative Arts

Indigenous Kenyan String Instruments

Make a fiddle, draw a still-life of string instruments using stippling, mount with window technique.

📖 4 min read · 3 worked examples · 4 practice questions

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The lesson

Today we begin our Creative Arts journey with the CBC strand on Creating and Execution. First, we'll explore Indigenous Kenyan string instruments—learning to identify them and even make a simple fiddle ourselves. Next, we'll practice drawing a still‑life using stippling, which means creating texture with many tiny dots, and the window technique, where we frame the scene like looking through a picture window. I'll pause now—does anyone have a question about the instruments or the drawing methods before we start hands‑on?

Let's explore some wonderful Kenyan indigenous string instruments. First, the Nyatiti – a Luo eight‑string lyre. Notice how it has a long neck and a resonating gourd body, giving it a deep, warm tone. Can anyone guess why the Nyatiti's strings are arranged in pairs? It allows players to create rich, layered melodies. Next, the Obokano – a Luhya bass lute. Its big wooden body produces low, resonant notes that often anchor a musical ensemble. Think about the role of a bass instrument in a band – it holds down the rhythm, right? Finally, the Ekidongo, a Kalenjin bowed instrument. Unlike the lyre and lute, it's played with a bow, producing a haunting, singing quality. What feelings does the sound of a bowed instrument evoke for you? These instruments are more than just sounds—they're cultural treasures that tell stories of the communities that created them. Any questions before we move on?

We've reached the Reflection and Next Steps part of our lesson. First, let's share each student's fiddle and artwork. Who would like to show their creation and tell us what they discovered about the sounds? Great, Alex! I love how you linked the high-pitched strings to the story of the clever hare. Remember, every instrument can tell a tale. Next, we'll connect those instrument sounds to Kenyan cultural stories. Who can share a story they heard about, and how the fiddle could bring it to life? Excellent, Maya! Your idea of using rhythmic patterns to mimic the drumming in the tale of the lion is perfect. Finally, let's plan a mini‑concert or exhibition in our classroom. We'll decide who will perform, what artwork will be displayed, and how we'll invite the whole school. To recap, we've shared our fiddles and drawings, linked sounds to Kenyan stories, and started planning a classroom showcase. I'm proud of how creative everyone has been—let's keep exploring music together!

Worked examples

– Crafting a Simple Fiddle

Let's dive into our first worked example: crafting a simple fiddle from everyday items. First, the materials. We'll need cardboard for the sound box, rubber bands for strings, a wooden stick for the neck, and a little glue to hold everything together. Step 1: Cut the cardboard into a small box shape, then stretch a rubber band across the opening and glue it in place to act as a string. Step 2: Attach the wooden stick vertically as the neck, and tighten the remaining rubber‑band strings by pulling them tighter—this raises the pitch, just like tuning a guitar. Step 3: Give it a quick test—pluck each string and listen. If a note sounds dull, adjust the tension a bit more, then have fun decorating your fiddle with markers or stickers. That's it! A simple fiddle you can make at home. Any questions before we move on?

– Stippling a String Instrument

Class, let's dive into Worked Example 2, where we'll learn how to stipple a nyatiti, a traditional string instrument. First, choose a clear reference photo of the nyatiti. A good picture shows the shape, the strings, and the wood grain clearly. Next, take a fine‑point pen and start adding dense dots in the darkest areas. Those tight clusters create the deep shadows. Then, vary the dot density—fewer dots for lighter parts and more for darker parts—to achieve a smooth light‑to‑dark transition. Finally, add highlights with very sparse dots. Those tiny specks give the wood a shiny, three‑dimensional feel. Great job watching each step. Remember, stippling is all about building texture gradually with tiny dots.

– Window Technique Mounting

Let's walk through Worked Example 3, where we'll mount our still‑life drawing using the window technique. First, cut a rectangular window opening in a thick cardboard backing. This creates a clear space where the drawing will show through. Next, apply glue to the backing and carefully place the stippled drawing on it, but leave the window area empty so the picture can be seen through. Then cover the window with a sheet of clear acetate—it protects the drawing while still letting the light through. Finally, label the finished piece with the instrument name and your own name so everyone knows whose work it is. That completes the window‑technique mounting. Any questions before we move on?

Practice questions

First, remember the description of a tiny wooden box with a narrow opening that you play by blowing across a hole—that's the classic definition of a recorder, not a violin or guitar.
Tuning a rubber‑band fiddle is all about adjusting tension. You can stretch the band to raise the pitch or loosen it to lower the pitch, and sometimes you tie a new knot to change the length.
For stippling, the darkest shadow comes from packing the dots tightly together. The closer the dots, the less light can slip through, giving a richer, deeper tone.
Finally, the window technique for mounting a picture means you first measure the wall, then mark the hanging points, hang the picture, and adjust the border evenly so the clear space looks balanced.

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Indigenous Kenyan String Instruments

📖 The lesson

✏️ Worked examples