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The "Big Kid" Rhythm Bundle (Grades 3-6) **30% OFF!**
By Jason Litt
Included in these rhythm bundle are 25 resources that you can utilize in grades 3-6. Games, dictation, worksheets, races, and more are in this bundle as the resources discuss longer rhythmic patterns, sixteenth notes, triplets, and long durations of rests.
Definitely a semester filler in here, terrific for reinforcing your 2nd half of the year with some of your upper grades, and with 30% off when bundled together, it's a sale you can't beat!
Angry Birds Theme - BUCKET DRUMMING!
By Jason Litt
Need to connect with your kids with their video game music through general music? Involve them in bucket drumming with the Theme from Angry Birds
There is one color coded slide along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 4). Then, apply it to drums!
All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)
This is a great resource for your beginning bucket drummers as it's only one page long with a lot of repeated passages and rudimentary rhythms!
Here's the track so you can play along...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DehK\_Y0TUbE
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
Terms of Use:
All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.
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*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!
Holiday Rhythm Discovery (NAME THAT TUNE!)
By Jason Litt
In "Holiday Rhythm Discovery" students will see a rhythm appear on the screen and will be given the opportunity to clap back (or perform back, say back, sing back, however you wish!) the rhythm being displayed. Then, they will see a multiple choice listing of songs -- which song matches the rhythm?
Advance the slide and the correct answer will turn GREEN
9 examples in this, just a little starter kit :)
**75% OFF!** Rhythm Latitudes (A RHYTHM CHALLENGE Game!)
By Jason Litt
***75% OFF FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!***
9.9.22 to 9.18.22!
Inspired from the MyRhythm App, here's a fun game you can play with some of your older kids to help reinforce rhythms, independence, steady beat, and more!
In Rhythm Latitudes, students will see two rectangles stacked on top of each other. In each rectangle (now known as a beat), there are two circles inside (denoted as eighth notes).
Top Rectangle
· If the first circle is illuminated green on the top rectangle, the students will play using their LEFT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap
· If two circles are illuminated green on the top rectangle, the students will play using their LEFT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap like two eighth notes
Bottom Rectangle
· If the first circle is illuminated green on the bottom rectangle, the students will play using their RIGHT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap
· If two circles are illuminated green on the bottom rectangle, the students will play using their RIGHT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap like two eighth notes
You will receive 4 levels of mastery with this (4 beats, 6 beats, offbeats, and rests) and accompanying mp3 groove background tracks (or you can play it with some of your favorite pop music).
Procedure:
· Teach the first pages of Left Hand rhythms on top, Right Hand rhythms on bottom
· Review included practice rhythms
· Then count off the kids and go!
· If they master it, move onto the next slide until completed (or until time runs out)
By Jason Litt
A fun activity to play with kids of all ages! Check out these Italian names and guess whether it’s a PASTA or a COMPOSER! See how many you get right! Some of these are quite tricky while others are pretty obvious :)
Out of the Box! (Playing accessory percussion)
By Jason Litt
Got a box full of percussion instruments? Work on rhythm reading together with the kids in creative fashions! In "Out of the Box!", 4 separate lines hold 4 different classroom instruments -- tambourines, rhythm sticks, hand drums, and maracas. These instruments are all assigned different 4 beat rhythms and focus on quarter notes, quarter rests, eighth notes, and more techniques throughout the presentation. To get everybody playing, shaking, and grooving, I place four stations throughout the room filled with the associated instrument. I then have a group of students rotate through the instruments throughout the activity so they can all get a feel of each instrument (no more "you get what you get, and you don't throw a fit...") Win-win! You can run in the way you wish! You can have the students perform an ostinato by repeating the 4 beat measure, or have them read it in a canon, or just do it all together as suggested! Or... you can have students write their own composition if you have an interactive whiteboard! How cool! Included are the powerpoint file (completely editable and expandable with images embedded in) and PDF file as a static presentation. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them. Have a great time!
Three's Company - an original Tubano composition!
By Jason Litt
In "Three's Company", introduce your kids to some great music from indigenous instruments from Africa! Using your classroom Djembe or Tubanos, learn the music by rote by taking it one rehearsal section at a time (with rehearsal markings [A], [B], [C], and so forth). This is terrific practice with your older students who want to work on alternating hands, especially in the selected meter of 3/4
The notation on the first space F is a bass (middle of the drum) and the notation on the third space C is a tone (four fingers near the rim of the drum, pitched a bit higher)
At the end, wrap it up and put on a show! Want to layer it?
Use this in class, a concert, a parent showcase, admin, faculty and staff, whatever you wish!
Have a terrific time with this one :)
Theme from Gravity Falls - BUCKET DRUMMING!
By Jason Litt
In a stark departure from our popular music series, here's a simple bucket drumming arrangement for the theme song from the hit Disney/Disney XD animated series, Gravity Falls!
There are two all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!
All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)
Here's the link to the theme song on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6usKhzL8uI
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Looking for more Bucket Drumming Resources? Check out the library below!
Celebration, Kool and the Gang - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Livin on a Prayer, Bon Jovi - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Don't Start Now, Dua Lipa - BUCKET DRUMMING!
I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Dynamite, BTS - BUCKET DRUMMING!
BANG! (Clean version), AJR - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Friend Like Me (Will Smith), Aladdin - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Prince Ali (Will Smith), Aladdin - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
YMCA, The Village People - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Stereo Hearts, Gym Class Heroes - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Africa, Toto - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Dance Monkey, Tones and I - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Stronger, Kelly Clarkson - BUCKET DRUMMING!
U Can't Touch This, MC Hammer - BUCKET DRUMMING!
You're Welcome, Dwayne Johnson (MOANA) - BUCKET DRUMMING!
I Love Rock 'n Roll, Joan Jett - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Don't Stop Believin', Journey - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Remember Me (Ernesto De La Cruz), Coco - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Theme from Superman, John Williams - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Hey Soul Sister, Train - BUCKET DRUMMING!
When Can I See You Again, Owl City (Wreck it Ralph) - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Pirates of the Caribbean (He's a Pirate) - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Try Everything, Shakira (Zootopia) - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Cantina Band, Star Wars - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Eye of the Tiger, Survivor (Rocky III) - BUCKET DRUMMING!
William Tell Overture, Rossini - SUPER ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
The Imperial March, Star Wars - BUCKET DRUMMING!
We're all in this Together, High School Musical - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Billie Jean, Michael Jackson - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Stars and Stripes Forever, Sousa - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Stitches, Shawn Mendes - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Beautiful People, Ed Sheeran - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Brave, Sara Bareilles - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Roar, Katy Perry - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Kids in an Adult World, Hello Sister - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Best Day of My Life, American Authors - BUCKET DRUMMING!
I Want You Back, Jackson Five - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Centuries, Fall Out Boy - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Wizards in Winter, Trans Siberian Orchestra - BUCKET DRUMMING!
ME, Taylor Swift - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Good Time, Owl City ft. Carly Rae Jepsen - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Firework, Katy Perry - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
If I Can't Have You, Shawn Mendes (CLEAN) - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Never Really Over, Katy Perry - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Sucker, Jonas Brothers - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Girls Like You, Maroon 5 (CLEAN) - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Havana, Camilla Cabello (CLEAN) - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Happy, Pharrell Williams - BUCKET DRUMMING!
This is Me, The Greatest Showman - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Party in the USA, Miley Cyrus - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Bad Romance, Lady Gaga - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Treasure, Bruno Mars - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Gangnam Style, PSY - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Life is a Highway (2018), ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Grenade, Bruno Mars - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
I Knew You Were Trouble, Taylor Swift - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
How Far I'll Go, Moana - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Natural, Imagine Dragons - BUCKET DRUMMING!
High Hopes, Panic! at the Disco - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Smooth Criminal, Michael Jackson - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Bad Blood, Taylor Swift - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Animals, Maroon 5 - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Radioactive, Imagine Dragons - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Dynamite, Taio Cruz - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Shake it Off, Taylor Swift - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Grenade, Bruno Mars - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Fight Song, Rachel Platten - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
ABC, Jackson Five - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Feel it Still, Portugal. The Man - ADVANCED BUCKET DRUMMING!
Thunder, Imagine Dragons - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Can't Stop the Feeling, Justin Timberlake - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Believer, Imagine Dragons - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Uptown Funk (CLEAN), Mark Ronson - BUCKET DRUMMING!
By Jason Litt
Included are some pretty hefty Orff arrangements for your advanced groups! On the powerpoint, all arrangements are color coded and marked with letters for easy rote teaching. The first arrangement is a piece called "The Zoo" which is 8 measures long and is intended to be repeated. The bass has a bordoun in the beginning and splits into a bass line in the second part. The alto provides chords and the soprano the melody The second arrangement, Untitled, has a lovely assortment of indepenent parts and a haunting E minor intro section. The next section gets more rhythmic in the sopranos as the alto takes over the melody along with the bass Enjoy these advanced arrangements!
Havana (CLEAN), Camilla Cabello - BEGINNING BUCKET DRUMMING!
By Jason Litt
More on the hit list with your bucket drumming kids, we present Camilla Cabello's hit song from 2018, "Havana" (CLEAN VERSION)!
There are two all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers isted next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 3 or 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!
All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)
There's a KIDZ BOP version on YouTube (which this is arranged for) so your kids can play until their hearts content -- no profanity, all clean
Here's the track so you can play along...
Jump through Hoops! (Rhythm Dictation)
By Jason Litt
This will sure to get your class energized and all you need is about 8 hula hoops! We group all the boys on one side and all the girls on another side (or you can do team A + team B) In front of the teams will be 4 hula hoops (representative of 4 beats of music). Kids will be called up in groups of 2, 3, 4, or more and listen to the musical example. After they hear the example, they have to act as the quarter and eighth notes in the example and spell it out from left to right! It's a hot mess, but it sure gets the kids to work together! As soon as the first team gets the right rhythm, advance the slide and show the answer! Each slide will contain how many students will be in the group, the musical example, and the hoops shown. Up to 2 students (2 eighth notes) can be in a hoop, 1 student (will represent a quarter note) alone in a hoop, or a blank hoop (0 students) for a rest. Have a great time with this the KIDS LOVE THIS!!!!!!
Walk it Out! - an original Tubano/Djembe composition!
By Jason Litt
In "Walk it Out, introduce your kids to some great music from indigenous instruments from Africa! Using your classroom Djembe or Tubanos, learn the music by rote by taking it one rehearsal section at a time (with rehearsal markings [A], [B], [C],). This is terrific practice with your older students who want to work on alternating hands with some syncopated rhythms
The notation on the first space F is a bass (middle of the drum) and the notation on the third space C is a tone (four fingers near the rim of the drum, pitched a bit higher). There are a few measures with a clap that's indicated on a top line F
At the end, wrap it up and put on a show! Want to layer it?
Use this in class, a concert, a parent showcase, admin, faculty and staff, whatever you wish!
(Remember the repeat in the beginning :D)
Have a terrific time with this one :)
DRUMITY - a Tubano/Tambourine Percussion Arrangement!
By Jason Litt
In "DRUMITY", introduce your kids to some great music from indigenous instruments from Africa! Using your classroom Djembe or Tubanos, learn the music by rote by taking it one rehearsal section at a time (with rehearsal markings [A], [B], [C], and so forth). This is terrific practice with your older students who want to work on alternating hands and triplets
The notation on the first space F is a bass (middle of the drum) and the notation on the third space C is a tone (four fingers near the rim of the drum, pitched a bit higher)
At the end, wrap it up and put on a show! Want to layer it?
Use this in class, a concert, a parent showcase, admin, faculty and staff, whatever you wish!
Have a terrific time with this one :)
Major Problem, Minor Adjustment (Identifying Major & Minor chord quality)
By Jason Litt
Chord quality galore! Help your kids understand to identify Major and Minor chords in "Major Problem, Minor Adjustment"!
Students will hear 3 to 4 chords back-to-back and have to select the chord (represented by a box from left to right) they think is "minor" or "major" as indicated by the slide
Advance the slide to discover the answer!
There are 8 questions and answers in this series
Ostinato Party - [A] and [B] Ostinato Rhythms for instrumentalists!
By Jason Litt
Working on ostinatos (repeated phrases) with your instrumentals (Orff, Recorder, Percussion, Body Percussion etc?).
Check out Ostinato Party where students can be assigned an A ostinato or B ostinato while working on different rhythms. You can have students switch halfway through or assign half a class one ostinato and the other half the different one.
3 Levels of Quarters and Eighths, Eighth Rests, and Sixteenth Notes!
By Jason Litt
The ultimate Boys vs Girls competition! If you're working on notes of the treble clef staff, this is a fun way for kids to competitively spell them out. First, we made a boys side (on the left of the screen) and girls side on the (on the right). A word will appear and the students have 10 seconds to spell the word out (there is a timer attached to the powerpoint and it will count down as soon as the slide appears). This games works best on a whiteboard that has magnetic backing as I print out notes and have the kids race as fast as they can to put them on. After the kids lock in their answer, the next slide reveals the notes. For notes that have F's and E's, the answer key has both top line, top space notes -- those F's and E's both count! :) Some are easy (CAB, DAB, DAD), some get a little tricky (BECCA, CABBAGE, DECADE) and so on. Towards the end they repeat, and feel free to edit and make your own! Have fun with this and if you have any questions, let me know!
Radetzky March, J Strauss (VADrum) - RHYTHM BASKETBALL!
By Jason Litt
RHYTHM BASKETBALL is in with a classical throwback made popular by the YouTube influencer VADrum -- here's his cover of the "Radetzky March" by Johann Strauss!
There are five all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 2 or 3 times).
For this, your students will each have a basketball (can be regulation size or smaller) and bounce their ball on the ground each time they see a basketball icon. Each basketball icon is denoted as a quarter note. The rests are in between each ball for the students to hold the ball.
There's also a "pat" icon with a hand below the basketball icon itself, so you will have the student hold the basketball in one hand and pat the ball on the beat
The orchestral mp3 track with background drums can be found here:
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
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Looking for even MORE Rhythm Basketball pieces? Find 'em here!
Uptown Funk, Bruno Mars (**CLEAN**) - BODY PERCUSSION!
By Jason Litt
Need to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music? Involve them in bucket drumming with Uptown Funk!
There are 6 color coded sections in this arrangement Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the PowerPoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 4 times).
Then, apply it to body percussion with the corresponding icons for STOMP, CLAP, SNAP, and PAT
The CLEAN version of uptown funk (and we mean CLEAN!) :) is here for your resource for you to download or play in the background
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p5Clbtmd8M
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
Come to Terms, Musical Terminology (* Distance Learning Approved! *)
By Jason Litt
Working on terms with some of your older kids who have been in elementary music for a few years? With "Come to Terms", students will see a definition of a term on the powerpoint and will have to drag one multiple choice term of which they think matches the definition. Advance the slide to reveal the correct answer!
In the 30 slide presentation, the 15 terms identified are:
Forte
Presto
**Largo
Crescendo
Accelerando
Fermata
Legato
Tempo
Staccato
Sostenuto
Triplet
Melody
Flat
Sharp
Diminuendo
**
By Jason Litt
Being able to identify rhythms being played is a key essential in any music classroom. How'd you like to make it extra challenging, partner?
In Rhythm Roundup, you'll have a variety of 1, 2, or 3 beat rhythms on the screen of all various notation (quarter, eighths, sixteenth, and rests). A musical example will be played and your little cowpokes will have to identify which rhythm is being played. Tap the right answer and it will illuminate green (all you need to do is advance the powerpoint or PDF!)
Included are 17 different music examples and tons of challenging rhythms to get your kids to think what they heard and line it up with what they see!