Activity
Other

Vic Firth: Snare Drum Rudiments

For Students 9th - 10th
All 40 of The Percussive Arts Society's Essential Snare Drum Rudiments are found on this site. Each rudiment includes audio and video so you can see and hear how the rudiments should be practiced. There are also many helpful tips on how...
Handout
Music Education

Learn About Instruments: The Percussion

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn general information on different percussion instruments such as the snare drum and cymbals and hear sound clips of these instruments being played.
Website
Other

Drumatix: Vintage & Collectable Drum Center

For Students 9th - 10th
This site offers vintage and collectable drum products for sale. Lots of images! (Takes a while to load)
Website
Other

Vic Firth: Educator's Resource Library

For Students 9th - 10th
This website is a cornucopia of resources for percussion instruction. There are videos, audiocasts, podcasts, interviews with talented percussionists. Please check out this website is you are interested in any aspect of percussion.
Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Percussion Instruments and Pitch

For Teachers K - 1st
Students will enjoy learning about pitch as they construct their own percussion instruments. They will predict and explore how pitches can change based on the materials used and how the instruments are made.
Activity
Michigan Reach Out

Michigan Reach Out!: Drums (Sounds Like Science)

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site is provided for by Michigan Reach Out. Students experiment with the variables of force, pitch and volume after making a drum.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Percussion

For Students 9th - 10th
A basic article on percussion instruments lists several examples of percussion instruments, provides a distinction between membranophones and idiophones, and lists instruments that are tuned vs. ones that are not.
Graphic
Curated OER

Merriam Webster: Visual Dictionary Online: Snare Drum

For Students 9th - 10th
Illustration of a snare drum, with its parts designated.
Website
Other

Notation in Musicator

For Students 9th - 10th
Site includes music composition software: percussion marking, fret marking, notes, rests, and more.
Graphic
Curated OER

Coffee Can Drums

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn how to make a percussion instrument using a coffee can. This site provides instructions for making the coffee can drum. You can also listen to audio clips of coffee can drums being played in various ways.
eBook
Quia

Quia: Dear Mr. Henshaw: Parts of a Friendly Letter

For Students 3rd - 8th
A fill-in-the-blank music game on percussion instruments. The student is able to check their answer after each of the 10 questions.
Article
Other

Rhythms of Puerto Rico Plena

For Students 9th - 10th
Study the rhythms of Puerto Rico through the musical form of the plena. Included are explanations of the different types of drums used in the plena. Audio examples and a pdf document of sheet music demonstrating the plena can also be...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Timpani

For Students 9th - 10th
A nice, factual encyclopedia entry from Wikipedia on the timpani. Discusses its origins, how it is played, how it is tuned, and its significance in an orchestra. Links are provided throughout the article for additional information.
Website
PBS

Classics for Kids: Musical Instruments

For Students 3rd - 8th
An A-to-Z directory of all the instruments and tools of the orchestra. Each entry includes a description, a picture, and a sound sample.
Graphic
Curated OER

Snare Drum

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn general information on different percussion instruments such as the snare drum and cymbals and hear sound clips of these instruments being played.
Graphic
Curated OER

Bass Drum

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn general information on different percussion instruments such as the snare drum and cymbals and hear sound clips of these instruments being played.
Interactive
New York Times

New York Times: Crossword Puzzle: Musical Instruments

For Teachers 9th - 10th
An interactive and printable crossword puzzle developed by the New York Times Learning Network. The theme of this puzzle is Musical Instruments.
Website
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids

For Students 3rd - 8th
This interactive site offers students resource for learning about composers, their works, the logistics of orchestra seating, the functions of different instruments, and the like.
Website
University of Michigan

University of Michigan: Instrument Encyclopedia: Tambourine

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief article provides general information on the tambourine and references for further reading.
Website
Other

Janet Planet for African Music Organization: The African Music Encyclopedia

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about African musicians and their music, at this encyclopedia site.
Website
BBC

Bbc Radio 3: World on Your Street

For Students 9th - 10th
World on Your Street, although not actively maintained since 2005, is one answer to uncovering different sounds in world music. Find interviews with musicians who brought their music to the UK from many different parts of the globe....
Website
Other

Private Lessons

For Students 9th - 10th
Search the data base for a private teacher in your location for any instrument/voice. Teacher contact information, resume, etc. is included.
Graphic
Curated OER

Cymbals

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn general information on different percussion instruments such as the snare drum and cymbals and hear sound clips of these instruments being played.
Graphic
Curated OER

Timpanis

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn general information on different percussion instruments such as the snare drum and cymbals and hear sound clips of these instruments being played.