Playing with Percussion: Making and Playing Instruments

Course Outline

Cultural enrichment for students grades 3 - 5

Drum roll, please! Did you know a kazoo is a percussion instrument? Learn all about the many types of musical instruments in this introduction to percussion, guaranteed to spark kids imagination and get them excited! Students explore rhythm with an exploration of human hand clapping to the recent explosion of percussion-inspired innovations such as rapping on paint drums and stomping. This fascinating journey illustrates how unique percussion instruments are among all other musical instruments.

Lesson 1: What is Percussion? Classifying Musical Instruments

I've Got Rhythm! Lessons 2-7 immerse students into the international world of percussion with hands-on experience in shaping and constructing their own percussion instruments with their own unique sounds. Percussion master Brian Melick on DVD leads students through an international discography (music samples are provided); while students tap, rattle, shake and thump their way through percussion boot camp. Its joyful noise!

Lesson 2: The Brazilian Bossa Nova and the Ganza Making Canister Shakers

Lesson 3:The Brazilian Samba and the Pandeiro Making a Paper Plate Shaker

Lesson 4:The Brazilian Reco-reco and the Cuban Guiro Making a Scraper

Lesson 5:The Moroccan Bendir, the Egyptian Deff and the Belly Dance Making a Plastic Plate Drum

Lesson 6: Drumming Rudiments Making Mallets

Lesson 7:The Cuban Clave Rhythm and the Claves Making Clapping/Sandpaper Blocks

Theory into Practice With instruments in hand, its time to rock the house! Beginning with some classic musicalfavorites including rhythms from rock and roll, swing, waltz music and more, students move into some of the subtler dimensions of understanding music, music theory, and performance. Students experience first-hand how important teamwork and listening skills are in music as they use the legendary call and response technique to make musictogether!

Lesson 8: Waltz, Swing, Rock and Roll, R & B, and Reggae Music Styles Understanding Tension and Release in Music

Lesson 9: Shakers and Scraper Review Developing Playing and Listening Skills

Lesson 10: Blocks and Plastic Plate Drum Review Playing in Unison

On with the Show! Places, everyone! Now working as an ensemble, learners explore the challenge of mixing the voices of their instruments in the spirit of letting each performer shine. Lessons 11-14 emphasize reading PwPs unique musical notation, playing with precision, and practice, practice, practice!

Lesson 11: The Cuban Maracas and the Cha Cha Cha Rhythm Practice Performing Skills

Lesson 12:The Brazilian Agogo Bells, Carnival and the Samba Rhythm Practice Performing Skills

Lesson 13: Middle Eastern Music and the Belly Dance Rhythm Practice Performing Skills

Lesson 14: Performance Rehearsal Practice Playing and Speaking Roles The Grand Finale!

Get out your top hat and tails for the premiere production of the latest and greatest in homegrown music! In Lesson 15, learners showcase not only their newly acquired musical skills, but also the great self-confidence, control, and grace theyve practiced in the preceding weeks. More than simply a concertgig, the ensemble show is a great opportunity for youngsters to demonstrate public speaking, cooperation, new knowledge, pride, and all the rewards of learning to play nicely with others. A bravura performance!

Lesson 15: Percussion Ensemble Performance Perform, Meet and Greet the Percussionists