Kindergarten Drumming Week Three

We used week three of the Afro/Brazilian component of the Kindergarten Drumming unit as an opportunity to move beyond learning the technicalities of playing the instrument, and began exploring the various ways drums are used to create soundscapes. After reading the story "Jungle Drums" by Graeme Base,

students were asked to close their eyes and listen to the Djembe I was playing. Using the tips of my fingers, I gently tapped the head of the drum. A few moments later, students were asked to keep their eyes closed but to raise their hands if the sounds reminded them of something. Students responded that they heard horses galloping, raindrops, tumbling rocks, and even popcorn popping!

After each student shared, students were divided into groups of five and given a drum, and told that they'd have to decide as a group what kind of sound they wanted to create. After they rehearsed, we would play a game and try to figure out what sounds the other groups were trying to create.

Students used their hands in patting, tapping and sweeping motions, and together produced incredibly creative soundscapes resembling the wind, mice running on the floor and earthquakes to name a few!