by Ann Baker, Norwich Elementary
Teacher Introduction
Students will work in small groups to search for drums from various
cultures around the world and classify these drums according to the six
drum shapes. Each group will create a journal picturing six drums from
around the world including descriptions of how the drums are made,
special skills involved in playing them and any interesting facts about
how these instruments are used in each cultural setting. As a
culminating activity, each group will write or improvise a layered
rhythm pattern to be performed on classroom drums.
The students in our school are very interested in our classroom drums!
Some students want to pound on a drum every time they walk by one. They
really need to know more about drums and especially the proper way to
play them. They will become an “experts” in the subject of drums from
around the world. As they share their research and performances with
their classmates, all students will become better informed about how to
handle and play our drums.