Feel the Beat of the Drums

When people hear music, they often begin to tap their feet or beat out a rhythm on an available surface with their palms or fingers. People improvise and make their own type of drums using whatever is available. Drums and drumming are an essential part of our world culture. You can explore the beauty, history, and cultural importance of drums as part of a celebration of International Drum Month. 

Find out What Your Students Know

Before kicking off a lesson on drums and drumming, find out what your class already knows. Make a list of what they know, and have them share their thoughts and feelings about this instrument. You may find that they know a lot about drums used in contemporary music groups, but not as much about the historical uses of these instruments.

Drums, History, and Culture

Drums have been used throughout history in a variety of ways. They have been used in battle, as a way to send messages, or as an instrument of celebration. You can begin a discussion on the history of drumming by making a list of the types of drums used throughout the world such as:

• Steel drums: Caribbean
• Chaozhou Dagu, large drums: China
• Djembes, hand drums from West Africa

Your class might find the use of drums in the military particularly interesting. During the Civil War, drummer boys were given the task of providing the beat for battle. Students can conduct research to find out about the drums that were used, and the perils that these young boys faced. It’s a good way to make a subject, such as the Civil War, relevant to young learners.

In Japan, drums were used in battle. In this case, the Taiko drum was the instrument of choice. Historically, these large drums were played singly as part of a military campaign. Nowadays, musicians play these instruments in unison, providing an unforgettable experience.

Record A Beat

Now comes the fun part. Expose your class to a variety of different types of drumming. Have them identify the unique styles and drum beats. Pupils can also bring in their favorite examples to share with the class. Next, have your class make their own music. Divide them into groups and have them make their own drums. The drums can be trash cans turned upside down, instruments made from wood, or an empty tin can. Let their creativity flow! This can be part of a project in which students create a short, two to three minute performance. They can perform it live, or it can be videotaped. They should also include a description of how they made their drums, why they made them in this manner, and what style of music they were emulating.

Celebrate With A Drum Circle

And last, but not least, celebrate International Drum Month with a drum circle. Have everyone bring in real, or improvised drums and have a celebration. It will be memorable experience for everyone!

Drumming Activities:

Message Drums

Drums have been used as a way to send messages throughout history. This resource discusses how message drums were used in Asia and Western Africa. Learners will be amazed at the effectiveness of using this method to communicate over long distances.

Global Music Lesson Plans

Learn about the unique musical styles of Japan and Brazil. Pupils explore the composition and content of polyrhythmic drumming styles. This is bound to be a popular lesson.

Talking Drums

Focusing on the drums using in African cultures, this resource delves into the mechanics of the instrument. It discusses pitch and the way tones reflect meaning. It also explores the meaning of words in a tonal language.

Drum Techniques and Percussion Patterns

Have your class learn basic drumming techniques. After discussing various rhythmic patterns, pupils make their own music.