Middle School General Music: Drumming & Percussion Monday, March 26, 2018
recommended by Jen Sper and Alissa Ruth, School Choral and Classroom Music Specialists
The middle school general music classroom can be an exciting (and/or terrifying) place! Throughout this school year, we’ve be sharing with you some valuable resources to help you develop enthusiasm and skills in your middle school musicians! Today, here are some great new options for teaching drumming and percussion:
World Music Drumming by Will Schmid
Since 1996, World Music Drumming has transformed lives and built community through ensemble drumming, singing, moving, playing xylophones and recorders. Students have developed focus, listening, teamwork, and respect while having the best time anyone can have in school. Now in over 20,000 schools worldwide, we are celebrating this success by publishing the landmark World Music Drumming 20th Anniversary Teacher Edition. The ALL-IN-ONE format adds the following new teacher and classroom-friendly elements: An enhanced curriculum sequence including 20 years of best practice (creative ideas and teaching strategies from WMD faculty and participants); 16 new audio recordings of each ensemble and song (including new arrangements that include piano/vocal, guitar/bass and xylophone/recorder parts); 47 new how-to videos by Will Schmid including special Ghana-filmed segments; 28 projectable / printable PDFs for cultural enrichment, assessment and ensemble parts; and e-Book with interactive audio, video and PDF icons. Even if you already own the 1st edition Teacher’s Book, Cross-Cultural Student Enrichment Book and Video, you will want this enhanced 20th Anniversary Teacher Edition with its new features and interactive layout. Enjoy!
Found Soundology by Mark Shelton
Take your students on an unforgettable musical journey with this collection of twelve original compositions using everyday objects in place of traditional instruments. While each piece includes suggestions for found sounds, Mark Shelton encourages you and your classes to find your own sound sources. Teaching and performance tips, recordings, and reproducible parts round out this convenient, creative outlet.
Give Me a Bucket by Mark Shelton
Music education meets the vibrant energy of street musicians in this easy to access collection for bucket ensemble. This follow up to “Give Me a Groove” brings you a dozen arrangements utilizing buckets, pails, and drumsticks. In addition to guiding you through the process of setting up your bucket ensemble, this collection includes teaching and performance tips, some simple choreography, performance tracks, and student scores. Also check out “Give Me a Tablet” to explore music creation using simple touchscreen apps as instruments!
Kalani’s World Rhythms by Kalani Das
Energize your classroom with traditional World Music! From the simplest of rhythm patterns to beautiful melodies and rich harmonies, there’s a part to play for every student as they explore authentic songs and rhythms. Easy-to-play drumming arrangements place success and fun within reach of every student. Kalani is your guest instructor! Authentic techniques and rhythms for a range of drums and percussion instruments are demonstrated via downloadable video and audio recordings, bringing Kalani’s expertise right into your classroom. PDF scores of each song provide piano and Orff instrument parts and every song is suitable for ukuleles and other common chording instruments. Students will love the upbeat rhythms. No drums? No problem. Alternative instrumentation is provided and the included accompaniment recordings make it easy to perform without any instruments. Each song tells a story that can be used to prompt creative movement, foster teamwork and build character. Kalani gives you ways to bring out the best in your students – including special learners. Video segments include: instruction for every drum and percussion instrument, layering in of all rhythm parts for each song, and how to teach rhythms using PUPS (Pulse Under Pattern Sequence).
Find more resources on our website, or contact us for more information. Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!
About the Authors:
Jen Sper has been with Stanton’s since 2006. A former middle school and high school choral director, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, she also enjoys good food, running (to counteract the good food…) and the Muppets.
Alissa Ruth began working at Stanton’s in the summer of 2016. She is a former middle and high school choir director and holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Capital University. She is an active choral singer in the Columbus area, and spends her free time running, doing yoga, cooking, and watching Netflix.