Submitted by Diane Hamilton, New York
Idea posted August 4, 2023
I found bucket drums at construction sites and other places and used them as a storage for hand held instruments under student's chair so there is no time lost in passing out instruments. For grades 3-6 I rotate my instruments as the year progresses. I begin with a bucket drum and drumsticks under each chair in September to read rhythms and do drumline rhythms. I put a basketball on top of the bucket drum for the students to bounce on the strong beat of duple and triple meter. In October (Hispanic Celebration) I use the ribbed drumsticks in the bucket as guiros and add a pair of maracas and claves. In December I take out the drumsticks and Hispanic instruments and put a hand drum under or on top of the bucket drum to play hand drums for Middle Eastern songs for Hannukuh. In January I put the hand drum on top of the bucket drum to create a djembe for Black History month by putting the bucket drum between their knees and then playing the top of the hand drum with their hands. In March, I put one rhythm stick in the bucket drum and they use it to play the hand drum "Irish" style by holding the stick in the middle and rocking the stick back and forth on the drum Teeter Totter style to play sixteenth note rhythm patterns. In April I put away the rhythm stick and put a basket ball on top of the bucket drum (borrowed from the gym teacher who is now outside with the students and doesn't need to use them). In May I keep rhythm band instruments for K-2 in the buckets but use the hand drum under or on top of the bucket for 3-6 to play "Taiko" drumming to songs like "BA Black Belt" from Music K8. One student holds the hand kneeling straight out while the partner stands with one knee in and the back leg straight behind them to play with rhythm sticks on the held out hand drum. I tore strips of black from old black t-shirts to tie around their heads and had them wear a white t-shirt and jeans. In June, I stacked the bucket drums in the corner of the room with paper towel draped across the edge to prevent sticking and put all sticks in the top of the top drum and put the rhythm instruments away in boxes in the cabinet. I saved so much time in class not having to pass out any instrument.