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Hispanic Heritage Month Music and Dance Styles Reading Comprehension Passages
By LessonLink Teacher
This set of 7 Hispanic Heritage Month Music and Dance Styles Reading Comprehension Passages is a vibrant collection that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Hispanic community.
Each passage focuses on a different music or dance style, providing an engaging exploration of its history, significance, and influence.
The passages cover a variety of styles, including:
Each passage comes with a set of written response questions that encourage students to delve deeper into the text and reflect on what they’ve learned. These questions are designed to test comprehension, stimulate discussion, and promote a deeper understanding of the material.
To assist in grading and provide clear feedback, each passage also includes an answer key. This allows for quick and easy assessment of students’ understanding and helps guide future instruction.
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Music Wordle: 46 Music Based Wordles (with optional hints)
By MsNerdWood
Are you looking for something fun and different for your students? Maybe you need some extra activities for early finishers...well look no further!
Entertain your class while integrating music and language with Music Wordle! This resources includes 46 Music Wordles that you can assign to your students or play together as a class. You could even hold a competition to see who can solve each Worldle first! There is lots of flexibility on how you can use this resource. I created this in Google Sheets. Your Music Wordle Google Sheet will include links to each of the 46 Music Wordle Puzzles. I've included a solutions tab as well as a table that includes puzzle hints, if you choose to share with your students. Each hyperlink is set up for you to make a copy of the Music World Puzzle before you play.
By Jason Litt
The follow-up to "Rhythm Wind Up and PITCH! and MELODY Wind Up and PITCH!"
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This one will get the kids on their edge of their seats!
You will need 1 thing for this particular game:
The students will see an instrument at the bottom of their screen and memorize the timbre of the instrument (should know beforehand what it is and how it sounds!) They will then hear a musical example of an endless loop of orchestral and band instruments playing in all different ranges from low to high (Teacher will click the speaker icon to play)
Take a listen...
....
....
One of the instruments will be the instrument that is on the screen. AS SOON AS THEY HEAR THAT INSTRUMENT, they throw their suction cup ball at the target. The first kid who gets it correct is the winner (and make sure you advance the slide to make the target turn green) :)
Obviously, we cannot play this as a class because of
The amount of suction cup balls tossed at the screen would be insane
Team A v Team B would be a bit more competitive and only two balls would be launched at once
If you don't have a whiteboard/projection screen, you can alternatively have the students raise their hand when they hear it and choose the kid who has their hand up the fastest.
Have a great time with this fast paced game!
KING CAT - an ADVANCED Tubano drumming composition!
By Jason Litt
In "KING CAT", 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 with trickier syncopations and advanced rhythms such as sequential triplets and sixteenth notes!
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 "Hocus Pocus" - HALLOWEEN BUCKET DRUMMING!
By Jason Litt
A fall classic just in time for the spooky bucket drums to come out is the smash introductory song from Disney's hit movie of the same name, we present to you the theme from "Hocus Pocus"!
There are three 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 track so you can play along...
This is a terrific fortifier for triplets -- Keep it steady and keep it spooky!
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
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*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!
Gravity Falls Theme (TRAP Remix) - BUCKET DRUMMING!
By Jason Litt
In a stark departure from our popular music series, here's a TRAP MUSIC 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 TRAP Remix version on YouTube:
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!
Treble Clef FOUR CORNERS! (Class Notation Game)
By Jason Litt
TREBLE CLEF FOUR CORNERS!
· To play Four Corners, ensure all students understand the lines and spaces of the staff (bottom line E to top line F).
· Number each side of the room 1, 2, 3, and 4 (or alternatively, color code it green, blue, red, or purple with floor tape)
· They will hear a 9 second timer. Students will have a chance to walk to one of four corners and stay there for the duration of the round.
· On the next slide, the treble clef notation will appear in each corner and you will see a letter name from the Treble Clef Staff
· The students will have to guess which treble clef notation it is by showing it with their fingers (1, 2, 3, or 4)
· The teacher then reveals to the students which treble clef note it was (#1, #2, #3 or #4) and the students who are in that corner are OUT!
· Keep repeating until no kids are left!
Included are 12 examples (you can switch it up each time and do different notation each time), the 9 second timer embedded in the powerpoint file, and instructions
Among Opposites - PERFECT for EOY Review!
By Jason Litt
In AMONG OPPOSITES, students will see a musical trait on the board represented by one crewmate. Students will then have to find the EXACT OPPOSITE trait by selecting one of the crewmates... who is actually the imposter!
Students will choose the exact opposite musical trait... advance the slide and see if they were right!
After the correct answer is shown, the following slide will give a brief description of the answer and why it was the opposite of the example shown
You can have students write it down, play it team A vs team B, boys vs girls, individually as an assessment, or even assign it as distance learning!
Included in this resource are
Have a great time with this!
Boom and Response (Call and Response for Boomwhackers!)
By Jason Litt
Getting your students to improve on rhythm and melody can't be any easier with "Boom and Response"!
In this resource, there are 3 tracks totally 5 minutes that you can play for your students (and repeat if necessary). Each track is a specific amount of beats for the "Call" (4 beats, 6 beats, or 8 beats) with the same amount of empty beats that follow directly after -- and thats where you students submit their "Response"
You can utilize this in one of several ways:
Or any other crazy way you may think!
Have a great time with this!
By Jason Litt
Trying to wean the kids off of the letter names but want to do it easily? Start with a warmup! In "Super Simple Recorder Warmups", you'll receive 25 4-beat exercises designed to warmup your kids while working on quarter and half note patterns.
Use the background accompaniment tracks if you wish (ranging from 80bpm to 117bpm) and reinforce the notes of the staff and rhythms throughout before heading into your recorder activity!
Included in this version are the recorder notes, G, A, B, and C
Instrument Imposter ("Among Us" theme timbre lesson!)
By Jason Litt
A game that will keep your 4th and 5th graders entertained, engaged, and competitively charged, here's INSTRUMENT IMPOSTER inspired by "Among Us"!
In Instrument Imposter, you will see 2 or 3 "crewmates" assigned with different woodwind, brass, percussion, or string instruments
A musical example will be played where all of the crewmates will play their assigned their instruments (either separated or together).
During the example, You, along with your students, will soon find out that the one of the instruments was the the wrong instrument played (the FLUTE crewmate shown actually played the CLARINET... or maybe the SNARE DRUM crewmate played the XYLOPHONE)
Your task is to decide which crewmate is the IMPOSTER by selecting the one crewmate instrumentalist who didn't play the correct instrumenr). Advance the slide and check your answer and go through the rounds!
Included in this resource are
Have a terrific time with this while your kids study timbre and the instrument families!
Stick it to the Buckets! (Sticking Patterns for Bucket Drums)
By Jason Litt
Working on alternating hands and reading down true percussive stickings? Try on "Stick it to the Buckets" with 30 great exercises that will get your upper elementary and lower middle kids reading with ease!
All regular notation is to be played on the middle of the buckets (the head of the drum) and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as side clicks on the bucket (or on the rim, however you choose!)
In this resource, there are multiple levels of rhythms along with percussive background tracks to get your kids grooving (or you can select any song of your choice in common time!)
Inspector Interval - Identifying Intervals (2nd-7ths)
By Jason Litt
End of the year review or just starting up with aural theory? Try on "Inspector Interval"!
In this fast paced game, students will do a brief review of how a musical interval is defined and jump right into the contest -- have an interval on the treble clef staff appear and TEAM A or TEAM B will have to name the interval as fast as they can!
There are no qualities of intervals (major 2nd, minor 6th, etc), just interval names by itself. There will always be a grounded "F", so the intervals will be built on top of that
We usually play this game 'around the world' style. We start off on the left side or right side of the the room and the first two people stand up and you flash an interval on the screen. The student who gets the note correct gets to move onto the next child in the class while the other student sits. That student has to make their way through the entire class before being deemed champion... but they could be beat at ANY TIME! You can mix it up, left side, right side, boys/girls, etc. Kids get ultra competitive!
... or use it as an individual activity!
Bucket it, DYNAMICALLY! (60 Dynamic Exercises for Bucket Drums!)
By Jason Litt
Ready to talk about Forte and Piano in any of your grades? Bucket it, Dynamically! will get your kids reading dynamics on their bucket drums like a pro!
First, we start off with an introduction to Forte and Piano with a clip from Music K8's animated series (included in the zip file), and then get into the game:
Students are issued their bucket drums and dynamics are shown on the screen. The teacher points to the dynamic (optional) as the kids play along on their buckets while the background music (included) helps them keep on beat!
After the students master the dynamics, the teacher advances the slide and dynamic shifts get a little harder each time.
There are 5 rounds to challenge your kids over a course of 2 lessons, 4 lessons, or however long you wish
Round 1 - 4 Beats with Forte and Piano
Round 2 - 4 Beats, adding Rests and Multiple Dynamics
Round 3 - 4 Beats, adding in Crescendo
Round 4 - 4 beats , adding in Diminuendo
Round 5 - 6 beats, Rests, Crescendo/Dimunendo, Multiple Dynamics
Also included are 3 accompaniment tracks to get your kids drumming along!
Dynamite, BTS - BODY PERCUSSION!
By Jason Litt
Need to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music? Involve them in a new BODY PERCUSSION version with BTS' smash hit "Dynamite"
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 3 times). Then, apply it to body percussion with the corresponding icons for STOMP, CLAP, SNAP, and PAT
Here's the track so you can play along...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD62mQpTH8k
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
One "Minor" Imposter ("Among Us" theme chord quality identification)
By Jason Litt
A game that will keep your students entertained, engaged, and competitively charged with identifying chord quality, here's One "Minor" Imposter inspired by "Among Us"!
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IN ONE MINOR IMPOSTER, YOU WILL LISTEN TO 2, 3, 4 EVEN 5 CREWMATES PLAY MAJOR CHORDS ONE BY ONE. ONE OF THE MAJOR CHORDS IS ACTUALLY NOT THE MAJOR CHORD PERFORMED!
YOUR TASK IS TO DECIDE WHICH CREWMATE IS THE IMPOSTER BY SELECTING THE CREWMATE WHO PLAYED THE MINOR CHORD INSTEAD OF THE MAJOR CHORD
HERE WILL BE ONLY ONE CREWMATE WHO IS THE IMPOSTER
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In each example is a piano/guitar/harpsichord mix with different background percussion tempos to keep the kids engaged. Each crewmate, lined up on the powerpoint (1, 2, 3, etc) will be representative of the musical example played.
Included in this resource are
Have a terrific time with this while your kids study chord quality!
By Jason Litt
The follow-up to "Rhythm Wind Up and PITCH!"
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This one will get the kids on their edge of their seats!
You will need 1 thing for this particular game:
The students will see a melody at the bottom of their screen and memorize the melodic direction or say it back in their head (just make sure the melodic is not sung out loud). They will then hear a musical example of an endless loop of melodic figures separated by 4 beats each in between rhythms. (Teacher will click the speaker icon to play)
Take a listen...
....
....
One of the melodic figures will be the melody that is on the screen. AS SOON AS THEY HEAR THAT MELODY, they throw their suction cup ball at the target. The first kid who gets it correct is the winner (and make sure you advance the slide to make the target turn green) :)
Obviously, we cannot play this as a class because of
The amount of suction cup balls tossed at the screen would be insane
Team A v Team B would be a bit more competitive and only two balls would be launched at once
If you don't have a whiteboard/projection screen, you can alternatively have the students raise their hand when they hear it and choose the kid who has their hand up the fastest.
Have a great time with this fast paced game!
Theme from "The Mandalorian" - BEGINNINER BUCKET DRUMMING!
By Jason Litt
A departure from our typical popular music fare, we now offer you the theme from the new Disney+ Star Wars saga "The Mandalorian" from Ludwig Göransson!
This arrangement is specifically designed for beginning bucket drumming students as a lot of the repeated eighth-sixteenth patterns are omitted. Upper 3rd Grade and beginning 4th Grade bucket drummers (and even middle school sight reading could benefit from this arrangement with easier rhythms and formality)
There are three color coded slides along with the form and instrumental identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students (a great way to talk about the variations of the theme with inclusion or exclusions of certain instrument groupings) and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 2 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)
Mp3 included with this!
Source file can be found here (beginning at 0:47):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YDKxcdIXBs
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Looking for more Bucket Drumming Resources? Check out the library!
Up on the Housetop, Pentatonix (PTX) - CHRISTMAS BUCKET DRUMMING!
Last Christmas, WHAM - CHRISTMAS BUCKET DRUMMING!
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, Burl Ives - CHRISTMAS BUCKET DRUMMING!
All I Want For Christmas is You, Mariah Carey - CHRISTMAS BUCKET DRUMMING!
Feliz Navidad, Jose Feliciano - CHRISTMAS BUCKET DRUMMING!
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Brenda Lee - CHRISTMAS BUCKET DRUMMING!
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, Mariah Carey - CHRISTMAS BUCKET DRUMMING!
Underneath the Tree, Kelly Clarkson - CHRISTMAS BUCKET DRUMMING!
You're the One That I Want, Grease - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Theme from the Munsters - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Les Toreadors (from Carmen Suite), Bizet - BUCKET DRUMMING!
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles), The Proclaimers - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Heart Attack, Demi Lovato - BUCKET DRUMMING!
Wrecking Ball, Miley Cyrus - BUCKET DRUMMING!
We are Young, Fun ft. Janelle Monae - BUCKET DRUMMING!
We Go Together, Grease - BUCKET DRUMMING!
The Thunderer, John Philip Sousa - 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
Reviewing the Percussion chapter with your kids and have discussed unpitched instruments? Pitched instruments and the accessory effects and how to play?
Try this interactive powerpoint that's full of fun with Percussion Jeopardy!
All new categories, all new answers! An authentic jeopardy game board with categories for:
Pitched Percussion
Unpitched Percussion
Percussion FX
Percussion Techniques (How to Play)
Students can elect to pick $200, $400, $600, $800, or $1000 answers. After clicking on the amount, the answer will appear on the next slide. Students (keeping in true Jeopardy! fashion) can answer in the form of a question
"What are Timpani Drums?"
"What are mallets?"
"What is a Piano"
After the money is awarded (You can split sides of your class, boys vs girls, class vs class, however you want it!), there is a link in the bottom right hand corner to go back to the title screen and game board.
After extracting the ZIP file, make sure to install the Jeopardy! font included, or else you'll see random characters all over -- not good eats!
Email me at jasonlitt@gmail.com or leave a comment if you have any questions. Happy Jeopardy...ing!
Throw Re Mi - Identifying Solfege Sylllables!
By Jason Litt
In a competitive solfege syllable naming game, you can practice your do-re-mi while getting out a little energy with your students! In Throw Re Mi, students will be split into groups (boys vs girls, colors vs colors, teams vs teams, however you wish) and one representative will stand in front of the whiteboard to represent their team. They will both use one suction cup ball to play the game (can be found at the dollar store or Target for a few bucks!)
They will be shown a solfege hand sign and see two or three corresponding circles above the hand sign. One of those circles will be the correct syllable (DO or RE, MI or TI, FA or LA, etc) -- encourage your students to throw their ball to the correct answer... whoever gets it the fastest wins (advance it to the next slide to reveal the answer in blue)
Also included is in an advanced round, called Throw Re Mi - Remix where it's flipped. The solfege hand signs will be on the top and the syllable on the bottom!
Have a great time with this and as always, leave questions in the comments if you need anything :)