Lesson 3-How to Make Your Own Percussion Instruments!

Hi Fourth Grade Families,

This week your assignment is to make your own percussion instrument.  Percussion instruments are the family of instruments that make a sound by hitting, scraping or shaking them.  All needed items can be found in your house or in your yard outside.  People have been using percussion instruments for thousands of years with the materials they can find around them.  Scroll down to find out how to make several different percussion instruments with the materials you have in your house and yard.  After you have made your instrument use it to play along to your favorite song.  Send me videos or pictures of your instruments to jdamon@wsesu.org.  I love to see what you have created!  Use this as an opportunity to be creative.  If you can think of how to make an instrument I forgot or one you invented yourself-go for it!  Use this as a chance to relax, get off the computer, go outside and be creative.  You can scroll down to find videos on how to make the individual instruments.  

Don’t forget our weekly sing-along on Facebook Live every Thursday at 2pm.  Send song requests to me at jdamon@wsesu.org.  If you are not already part of our closed VES Music facebook page send me an email and I’ll send you an invite.  

I miss you all!
~Mrs. Damon 

Click here to hear a recording of percussion instruments.  The first instrument to play is claves, followed by a guiro, then a shaker, drums and mallet percussion (xylophones). https://safeYouTube.net/w/ZmEA 

Claves-are the instrument used to play the Afro-Cuban rhythmic pattern also called a clave that is the backbone of several different types of music.  Claves are two sticks you hit together.  To create your own claves just use two sticks or two wooden spoons to hit together.  

Guiro(the Fish)-is a standard Latin American percussion instrument.  Guiros are traditionally made of dried out gourds that have had cuts made across the top to create their characteristic scraping noise.  We are going to make our guiros with pinecones and a stick. Click on the link to hear what a guiro sounds like.  

Maracas/Shakers-originate from many different African and Latin American cultures.  Maracas were traditionally made of hollowed out, dried fruit that were filled with small pebbles and fitted with a handle.  Shakers are basically maracas without handles.  Take a small plastic container with a top, I am using a yogurt container, and fill it with many small items that your parents say is okay to use.  Some suggestions are small pebbles, small legos, dried beans or rice or other small items.  I am using plastic dice.  

Drums-can be found all over the world.  Drums were traditionally made of a hollowed out piece of wood that had animal hide stretched over the top.  We are going to make our drum using a plastic container with a top.  I am using a yogurt container.  If your container doesn’t have a top you can use tape across the top to create your drum head.  

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