Bang on the Drums All Day! Part 1

Everyone loves the drums! They’re fun and expressive and there are so many different kinds. Drums belong to the percussion family meaning they are played by being shaken or hit. Drums are at the heart of any musical groove. They provide a driving beat that can make us want to dance and move. We’re going to discover how drums can be used for musical games and activities, too. Let’s start by making some drums of our own, and then exploring family music-making activities so you can bang on the drums all day!

Make Your Own Drum
It’s easy to do with just a few household items. Here’s what you’ll need:
• One empty coffee can with a plastic lid (one can per drum)
• Two wooden spoons (two sticks per drum)
• Construction paper, markers, crayons, paint, glitter and other decorative items of your choice to make your drum festive and fun!
• Scissors
• Glue or tape

Decorate your coffee-can drums and play them with the handle end of the wooden spoons. For a unique drum sound, put a layer of coffee beans, rice, small pebbles, or popcorn kernels at the bottom of the can. Experiment with different materials and discover together how the sound (timbre) of the drum changes.

Next we’ll add some drum rhythms and games for the whole family to play!

Filed under Family Activities, Music, Music Education |