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Goal

To make well rounded musicians by expanding their skills with drumming technique, steady beat verses rhythm reading, and ensemble playing, which will lead lead to community with a sense of pride and independence.  

What will be done with my students

I was able to introduce drumming into my curriculum this year by securing a Drum Loan from the North Florida Orff Chapter. We have been borrowing 11 tuned Tubano drums, but they will be returned at the end of the school year. Using the drums from the loan, my students have enjoyed exploring different playing techniques. Kindergarten and first grade have worked on a bass sound, while second grade has incorporated both the bass and tone sounds.

Drumming easily falls into the curriculum of kindergarten by allowing us to bring poems or stories to life, and practice steady beat.

The Counting Song with One Two Buckle My Shoe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zfiN5DyW0M

With first grade we explored keeping a steady beat on the drums while having the other half of the class play a rhythm pattern. We first learned it by chanting the rhythms and counting the beats, but then we used our “thinking” voice, which is taking the skill to the next level by internalizing the music.

Beat Verses Rhythm - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFmDYR4J6ZE

Second grade worked on a short rhythmic piece that had two parts, one on drums and the others on shakers. The drum part incorporated bass and tone technique. Having the students play two interlocking rhythmic patterns at the same time is an advanced skill!

Complimentary Rhythms - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfYc2Ej4XpI

The Orff Ensemble, Hornets In Harmony meets after school on Thursdays, and we have been utilizing the drums for our spring show. They are performing Snow Rondo, which was originally written for body percussion, but we have transitioned it to the drums.

Snow Rondo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICzhyf6cuo8

This is just the beginning of what we can do with Tubano drums in the music classroom. I look forward to building even more learning opportunities into the curriculum.  

Benefits to my students

In my classroom my students are actively making music. We sing or speak from day one of kindergarten. We improvise, collaborate, compose and play instruments. All my curriculum is taught this way. Bringing drums into the curriculum only enhances the learning environment. It gives students a way to build gross and fine motor skills they cannot get from other instruments. It enhances rhythmic competency and ensemble skills. It gives students a sense of pride and independence all while building the classroom community. Drumming is inclusive. Everyone enjoys it and everyone can do it. As I stated in the previous section, all of this will go away at the end of the year when we return the drums, but I know how much excitement and learning they have brought into my classroom, and I would like that to continue for my students.  

Budget Narrative

I have 18 students per section. With the addition of these five Tubano drums I would be able to structure my lessons in a way for students to rotate through the instruments when learning a new concept. When working in small groups for composition it would allow for each group to have one instrument. The purpose of the different sizes lends to different pitches and timbres, which will be great for improvisation.  

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