"It's
always more fun to 'do' music when you get to DO
something. These rhythm instruments double as objects-to-pass
. . . engaging kids with hands-on rhythm & motion
activities they get to do while they're singing. Even
your 'non-singers' will want to get involved!"
.........................................................................................Cathy
Here's how you "Pass"
during songs . . .
Many of my songs encourage participants to pass plastic
drink cups or rhythm sticks or rhythm eggs on specific
words or beats of a song (Do What's Right
and Pass the
Love are great songs for learning how to pass).
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Break your large group into many small groups of 4-6 kids. Place each group in a circle on the floor or at a table, with participants facing the center of the circle. Grasp the items to be passed, one item in each hand, but leave them on the floor/table. Each person will pass their cups/sticks/eggs to the person on their right - leaving them within easy reach of their neighbor. Then each person grabs the new sticks/cups/eggs that have been passed to them and passes them to the person on their right again. |
You may pass on specific beats (beat 1 only, then try beats 1 & 3 to really speed things up), on certain words (the word "do" in "Do, Lord), only on words that start with "C", or whatever. You may also use them in place of claps or snaps in a song - simply tap them together or on the floor in place of the claps.
POINTERS: Start slowly. Practice passing to the right a few times before you sing the song (1-2-3-pass, 1-2-3-pass) Learn the song first, then try passing. Include adults in each circle. As your small groups get skilled at passing, encourage them to put 2-3 small groups together to form one large passing group.
The
Action Pack - a collection designed
with rhythm and passing in mind.
Click here to order
or hear short samples of the songs in
The
Action Pack.
Need
some ideas on how to incorporate music into your
curriculum?
Check out my multi-dimensional learning and
Workshop Rotation Model™ page.
Drill small hole in center of 2 of the PVC end caps. These holes need to be a little bit smaller than the B-B's you're placing inside the sticks but large enough to get a darning needle and ribbon through. Cut 4 pieces of ribbon in 12"-30" pieces. Thread ribbon on needle and pull needle to center of ribbon. Put needle in drilled hole, going from outside to inside of cap; pull into cap only a few inches. Cut ribbon to remove needle, leaving ribbon in hole. Continue adding ribbon. When finished, tie ribbon ends in a knot & trim ends - knot will be inside the stick. Put PVC cement or glue on pipe and glue one ribboned end cap on each stick. Remove excess glue with paper towel.
Place 1-2 tablespoons of B-B's or popcorn or rocks in each stick. Glue remaining un-drilled end caps on each stick. Remove excess glue with paper towel.
Decorate sticks with electrical tape. Zip-curl ribbons with scissors to make them curl.
Cost: $1-1.50 per pair of rhythm sticks.
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| Rhythm
Egg Supplies needed to make a rhythm egg: 1) 1 plastic egg 2) Assorted colors of electrical tape 3) 1 tablespoon of steel B-B's or popcorn or rocks 4) Scissors & tablespoon |
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Cost: 20¢-50¢ per egg.
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Streamer
Stick |
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1) 1 paint stir stick
2) Crepe paper (rolls of assorted colors)
3) Masking tape
4) Scissors
Select color of crepe paper (the liturgical color of the season, green for the garden of Eden, red & yellow & orange for the fiery furnace, blue for the waves surrounding Noah, etc.) and cut six pieces in 2'-3' lengths. Tape one piece of crepe paper to end of paint stir stick. Continue until three pieces of crepe paper have been taped to each end of paint stir stick.
Cost: 25¢-50¢
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| Huiro /
Rain Stick Supplies needed to make a huiro / rain stick: 1) 1/2" flexible conduit 2) Two 1/2" PVC end caps 3) 1-2 tablespoons of steel B-B's 4) PVC cement / glue 5) 1/4" package ribbon 6) paper towels 7) Drill, scissors, hacksaw 8) Darning needle with large eye |
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Drill small hole in center of 1 of the PVC end caps. This hole needs to be a little bit smaller than the B-B's you're putting inside but large enough to get a darning needle and ribbon through. Cut 4 pieces of ribbon in 8" pieces. Thread ribbon on needle and pull needle to center of ribbon. Put needle in drilled hole, going from outside to inside of cap; pull into cap only a few inches. Cut ribbon to remove needle, leaving ribbon in hole. Continue adding ribbon. When finished, tie ribbon ends in a knot & trim ends - knot will be inside the stick. Put PVC cement or glue on flexible conduit and glue on ribboned end cap. Remove excess glue with paper towel.
Place 1-2 tablespoons of B-B's inside. Glue remaining un-drilled end cap to conduit. Remove excess glue with paper towel.
A huiro can be used as a percussion instrument by running the handle of a spoon over the grooves on the tubing. Hold huiro in one hand and scoop-side of spoon with the other hand. Run handle of spoon over grooves for a washboard-like sound. For a rain-like sound, tip one end of huiro up then tip other end up to get BB's to trickle down. For a maraca (rattle), shake huiro from side to side.
Cost: $1 per huiro / rain stick