USE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS FOR THE LESSONS BELOW ON RHYTHM:
CLAVES
These are Clave percussion sticks. Hit the sticks together to produce sound. The longer stick goes in the holding hand.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaMcOwWUNWI
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaMcOwWUNWI
BONGO DRUMS
These are Bongo Drums. Hit the edge of the drum to produce the best sound.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvoym1Fw6iY
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvoym1Fw6iY
SHAKERS &MARACAS
These are Shakers and Maracas. Hold one in your hand, moving your wrist back and forth.
WATCH THE VIDEOS BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYeL89VS7bM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baiEjwY4GOU
WATCH THE VIDEOS BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYeL89VS7bM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baiEjwY4GOU
TAMBOURINES
These are Tambourines. They are a percussion instrument that is held in the hands and played by striking or tapping the instrument.
TRIANGLES
These are Triangles. They are a member of the percussion family, and are usually used as an accent in a song, often regarding humour.
WACTH THE VIDEO BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jYg28lY0pA
WACTH THE VIDEO BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jYg28lY0pA
HOMEMADE SHAKERS
Homemade shakers are another great percussion instrument for the students to use when learning rhythm. These can easily be made by the students, incorporating art and building outcomes into the lesson!
LESSONS
Music Express Magazine on YouTube is an amazing resource to introduce these topics!
#1 - BEAT
Watch the following video on beat with the students. After, use the different lessons below to practice beat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kaX2l413p8 |
The Beat Walk
Have your students stand up in a space large enough to move around in. Select varying songs with strong and obvious beats. Have the students walk only on the beat.
Beat vs Rhythm
Use these familiar nursery rhymes to teach the difference between beat and rhythm. Designate certain students to clap the beat while others clap the rhythm.
#2 - RHYTHM
Watch the following video on rhythm with the students. After, use the different lessons below to practice rhythm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYsGlNpx2YI |
Roll Your Rhythm
Roll varying rhythms for the students to play by clapping or using one of the percussion instruments listed above.
Animal Actions
Go through the varying rhythms with students, showing how animals move like certain rhythms. Once the students know the rhythms, assign each student an animal. When you call out that animal, they must play their rhythm.
Ocean Rhythms
Go through the various rhythms with the students, having them say the names while clapping at the same time. Once students know all the rhythms, assign them an animal to play. You could use a different percussion instrument for each animal. To make it more challenging, you could cut each row out and rearrange the order they are played.
Halloween Rhythm
Go through the various rhythms with the students. Like above, you can assign students a certain object to play for (the witch). You can also rearrange the order to make it more challenging for students.
Note Values
This image is a great representation of the value of each of the notes. One whole note (4 beats) is worth 2 half notes (orange), 4 quarter notes (yellow), 8 eighth notes (green), and 16 sixteenth notes (blue). Students could be paired up, and have to make each line worth 4 counts (the same length) using the various notes.
Rhythm Clock
Create a rhythm clock for your students, pasting different rhythms at each number. Ask your students to clap the rhythms at each time. For example, clap the rhythm, at 3 o'clock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Cv2KELINc&t=25s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Cv2KELINc&t=25s
Colour the Note/Rest
This colouring activity is an awesome way to formatively assess the students knowledge about the names of the notes and rests.
#3 - RESTS
Watch the following video on rests with the students. After, use the different lessons below to practice rests.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo-PBf_WH54 |
What Rests Look Like
Monster Rests
Once students know their basic rhythms and rests, you can mix in notes and rests for the students to clap or play on a percussion instrument. These cards can be cut up and placed in various orders to further challenge the students.
Rhythm Bingo
Rhythm Bingo is a great way for students to learn their rhythms through hands on learning. The teacher can randomly select a rhythm. Once selected, the whole class must clap that rhythm. Afterwards students can proceed to cover that rhythm box if they have it on their sheet.