A Brand New Year

Music Room Rules!

Well, it is the start of a new year, lots of new faces, and the opening lesson.  Now with the start of a new year, it's the going over the classroom rules, expectations, and procedures for their first music visit.  Now remember, there are  5 Fifth grade classes, 6 Fourth grade classes, and 7 classes each of Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, and Third Grade.  That is a lot of repetition on my part.  So I would like to share how I have fun with this.  I have my music rules set to rhythm patterns.  (Not my idea...saw it on Pintrest,)  

 This year, I decided I wanted to try "bucket drumming"...so I was looking and pricing buckets this past summer.  They are not cheap...especially if you need to have 32 so each student has their own.  So while I was in Michael's Craft store, I got this bright idea to do Frisbee drumming...Less space required for storage and still able to get multiple sounds from it (when taught to use center and rim)..and bingo only $.50 each.  I can afford that.  (They were on summer clearance!)  I did have to purchase the drum sticks as well, but got a great deal through Musician's Friend catalogue.

Now I would like to introduce my Frisbee Drumming.  Mrs. Jones class is demonstrating each rule and rhythm.

 I have all second through 5th graders practicing reading and playing rhythms on these "drum kits"  so what about Kindergarten and First Grade?  They were introduced to "Beat Buddies."  I had some Ty Beanie Babies, and I put out a request for donations of more and got enough for each student to have one.  So, they get to play their rhythms with Beat Buddies.  This was not my idea either.  The credit for this will go to Richland's Primary Music teacher Holly Beasley.  Thanks for sharing this great idea.   Stay tuned for more fun and activities this year!