Less than $5 8th Grade Vocal Music Resources (by price, low to high)
By MsNerdWood
This project is designed for students to create their own original artist/band and to market their newly formed artist(s). It is appropriate for middle school students (grad 6-8) and is always a crowd pleaser!
Students submit a band/artist portfolio which includes a profile about their artist/band, a concert poster, album cover art, and a jingle. The jingle can be performed using an instrumental track to a piece that they enjoy. Included are some examples of products that they could write a jingle about. A rubric for assessment purposes is included and you could even extend this project further by creating an art assessment piece for the album cover art and concert poster.
This assignment typically takes approximately 5-10 classes to complete, from introducing it to completing the final jingle performances. It is handy to have students to complete a rough copy of their work before submitting their good copy to ensure their best quality work is submitted.
Mr. Litt's Bucket Drumming ANTHOLOGY -- A comprehensive list of Bucket Drumming!
By Jason Litt
LONG OVERDUE, but here it is in all of its glory!
Nearly 300 Bucket Drumming Arrangements, Resources, Games, and more in the OFFICIAL Mr. Litt's Music Room Bucket Drumming Anthology!
This free resource is a comprehensive list of everything in the store, alphabetized and grouped by genre, difficulty level, and other resources.
This will be updated each time there is a new resource added, so feel free to peruse or download every so often :)
Clickable links are in the PDF and Word Document files which take you straight to the page to purchase or add to your wish list.
Elements of Music: Vocabulary Mystery Word Match
By MsNerdWood
Are you ready to introduce (or reintroduce-let’s face it, we all know they forget from year to year) your students to the captivating world of the Elements of Music? Then you’ll enjoy the Elements of Music Vocabulary Mystery Word Match Activity! This engaging lesson is designed to help students familiarize themselves with some essential music vocabulary associated with the elements of music in a fun and interactive way. We all know that students generally love games so they’ll enjoy the gamification of this activity. As they match vocabulary words with their definitions, they’ll discover some letters that they will need to unscramble to find a mystery word.
Activity Overview:
In this activity, students will match vocabulary words to their corresponding definitions related to the elements of music. Each correct match will reveal a letter, allowing students to unscramble and discover the mystery word. This interactive feature adds an extra layer of excitement and challenges to the vocabulary learning experience.
Included in this Activity:
With this activity you will get an interactive worksheet with some words related to the elements of music (e.g., Elements of Music, Duration, Pitch, Dynamics, Timbre, Texture/Harmony, Form and Tempo) and the corresponding definitions and explanations for each mystery word.
When students have completed and found the mystery word, you can provide them with a blank template and have them find additional words related to the elements of music and their corresponding definitions so that they can create their own. You can use this for earlier finishers, as an extension activity or to dig a little deeper for everyone into the elements of music.
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!
- This version specifically targeted and tailored for beginning bucket drummers can be used for younger students who may not have the coordination for alternating hands and who just want to step right into the drumming circuit with a bit more ease! All notation in this arrangement are quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests
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...
Uptown Funk (*CLEAN*), Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars - RHYTHM BASKETBALL!
By Jason Litt
RHYTHM BASKETBALL is in with the Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars collaboration from 2014 -- "Uptown Funk"!
There is one all-color coded slides along with corresponding repeats listed with each section (most are repeated 4 or 6 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. Any smaller balls (grouped in two) will be played as 2 eighth note pairs and students will have to lower themselves a foot or two to dribble eighth notes on the floor
The CLEAN version of uptown funk (and we mean CLEAN!) :) is here for your resource for you to download or play in the background
Feel it Still, Portugal. the Man - BEGINNING BUCKET DRUMMING!
By Jason Litt
Need to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music? Involve them in some advanced bucket drumming with the smash hit from Portugal. The Man, "Feel it Still"!
- This version specifically targeted and tailored for beginning bucket drummers can be used for younger students who are not familiar with the syncopation, may not have the coordination for alternating hands, or who just want to step right into the drumming circuit with a bit more ease! All notation in this arrangement are quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests
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, or 8 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...
Rhythm and Rest (30 sight reading rhythms w/ quarter and half rests)
By Jason Litt
This resource Rhythm and Rest is terrific for your kids as an introduction to quarter and half rests or just as a warmup for whichever instrument you may be practicing (recorder, orff, handbells, voice, etc!)
30 slides with 3 different levels
Quarter Rests and Half Note Rests with Quarter Notes
Adding in Eighth Notes
Six beat patterns
Animals, Maroon 5 (**BEGINNING BUCKET DRUMMING!**)
By Jason Litt
More on the hit list with your bucket drumming kids, we present Maroon 5's hit song from 2014, "Animals"!
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 2, 4, or 8 times). Then, apply it to drums!
- This version specifically targeted and tailored for beginning bucket drummers can be used for younger students who are not familiar with the sixteenth notes, may not have the coordination for alternating hands, or who just want to step right into the drumming circuit with a bit more ease! All notation in this arrangement are quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests
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...
ABC, Jackson Five - CUP RHYTHM ARRANGEMENT!
By Jason Litt
Cup rhythms are terrific for your students of all ages! Inexpensive plastic cups from the dollar store, Target, or others make excellent substitutes for percussion instruments and in unison played together, solidifies steady beat, rhythm acuity, and gets everyone playing as an ensemble!
In this arrangement of everyone's favorite from the 1970s ABC, from the Jackson Five, students will read each corresponding colored section along with the form identifier for the amount of times played.
Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats. Then, apply it your class set of cups (to be done on the ground, in their seat, or however)!
Notation is as follows:
- CUP WITH ARROW - to be played by striking the cup (upside down) on the floor
- CUP WITH HAND - to be played with cup on the floor and patting the top of the cup
- CLAP - hands clap once
- QUARTER REST - one beat rest
Here's the track so you can play along...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e5qLfeDJmk
Have a great time with this!
Beautiful People, Ed Sheeran (BUCKET DRUMMING!)
By Jason Litt
More on the hit list with your bucket drumming kids, we present to you one of Ed Sheeran's' smash hits "Beautiful People"!
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 3 or 8 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...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9oYAk5Vfqw
_______________________________________________
Looking for more Bucket Drumming Resources? Check out the library!
Stitches, Shawn Mendes - 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!
Beautiful People, Ed Sheeran (BUCKET DRUMMING!)
By Jason Litt
More on the hit list with your bucket drumming kids, we present to you one of Ed Sheeran's' smash hits "Beautiful People"!
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 3 or 8 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...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9oYAk5Vfqw
_______________________________________________
Looking for more Bucket Drumming Resources? Check out the library!
Stitches, Shawn Mendes - 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!
Little Saint Nick, The Beach Boys - RHYTHM BASKETBALL!
By Jason Litt
RHYTHM BASKETBALL is in Holiday Style with the Beach Boys' hit piece, "Little Saint Nick"!
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 2 or 4 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. Any smaller balls (grouped in two) will be played as 2 eighth note pairs and students will have to lower themselves a foot or two to dribble eighth notes on the floor
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
Here's the track so you can play along...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp9rK8FmYog
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
Treasure, Bruno Mars - (**BEGINNING BUCKET DRUMMING**)
By Jason Litt
Need to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music? Involve them in bucket drumming with Bruno Mars' 2012 hit song "Treasure" !
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 3, 5, or 7 times). Then, apply it to drums!
- This version specifically targeted and tailored for beginning bucket drummers can be used for younger students who are not familiar with the sixteenth notes, may not have the coordination for alternating hands, or who just want to step right into the drumming circuit with a bit more ease! All notation in this arrangement are quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests
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...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_zmgxme33uw
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
I Want You Back, Jackson Five - BEGINNING BUCKET DRUMMING!
By Jason Litt
More on the hit list with your bucket drumming kids, we present Jackson Five's hit song from 1969, "I Want You Back"!
- This version specifically targeted and tailored for beginning bucket drummers can be used for younger students who are not familiar with the sixteenth notes, may not have the coordination for alternating hands, or who just want to step right into the drumming circuit with a bit more ease! All notation in this arrangement are quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests
There are four 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 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...
ABC, Jackson Five - RHYTHM BASKETBALL!
By Jason Litt
RHYTHM BASKETBALL is in with the Jackson Five's hit song "ABC"
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 2 or 4 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. Any smaller balls (grouped in two) will be played as 2 eighth note pairs and students will have to lower themselves a foot or two to dribble eighth notes on the floor
Here's the track so you can play along...
Try Everything, Shakira (Zootopia) - RHYTHM BASKETBALL!
By Jason Litt
RHYTHM BASKETBALL is in with Shakira's hit from the movie Zootopia, "Try Everything"
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 3 or 4 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. Any smaller balls (grouped in two) will be played as 2 eighth note pairs and students will have to lower themselves a foot or two to dribble eighth notes on the floor
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
Here's the CLEAN track so you can play along...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqdJmdQvoUg
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
Thunder, Imagine Dragons - RHYTHM BASKETBALL!
By Jason Litt
RHYTHM BASKETBALL is in with Imagine Dragons' smash hit "Thunder"
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 2 or 4 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. Any smaller balls (grouped in two) will be played as 2 eighth note pairs and students will have to lower themselves a foot or two to dribble eighth notes on the floor
Here's the track so you can play along...
Enemy, Imagine Dragons - RHYTHM BASKETBALL!
By Jason Litt
eed to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music? Involve them in bucket drumming with the Imagine Dragons smash hit from 2021, "Enemy"! This one REALLY grooves and is perfect for kids... as the lyrics are ALL clean! :D
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 3 or 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!
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. Any smaller balls (grouped in two) will be played as 2 eighth note pairs and students will have to lower themselves a foot or two to dribble eighth notes on the floor
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 track can be found here to play right along:
Terms of Use:
All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (Trap Remix) - RHYTHM BASKETBALL!
By Jason Litt
RHYTHM BASKETBALL is in Holiday Style with a trap remix version of the hit piece, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"!
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 2 or 4 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. Any smaller balls (grouped in two) will be played as 2 eighth note pairs and students will have to lower themselves a foot or two to dribble eighth notes on the floor
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
Here's the track so you can play along...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3pgO2i\_juYYog
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
24k Magic, Bruno Mars (***CLEAN***) - BEGINNING BUCKET DRUMMING!
By Jason Litt
Need to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music? Involve them in bucket drumming with the clean version of Bruno Mars' smash hit "24k Magic"
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 in groups of 3x and 1x). Then, apply it to drums!
- This version specifically targeted and tailored for beginning bucket drummers can be used for younger students who are not familiar with the sixteenth notes, may not have the coordination for alternating hands, or who just want to step right into the drumming circuit with a bit more ease! All notation in this arrangement are quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests
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 clean track so you can play along...