Meet the Instruments
What kinds of instruments do we use in music class? K-5th grade students use rhythm sticks, shakers, hand drums, and Boomwhackers. 4th and 5th graders also play recorders. Scroll down to learn more about each kind of instrument.
Rhythm Sticks:Rhythm sticks are very helpful in music class. We play them by tapping them together, which means they are a percussion instrument. We use them to keep a steady beat, show the rhythm or "the way the words go" to a song, or experiment with different speeds and volumes in music. They are easy to hold and play, so they are the first instruments students learn to use!
Egg Shakers:Egg shakers are exactly what they sound like: instruments shaped like eggs that are played by shaking! They make a lot of different kinds of sounds. Egg shakers are great for showing steady beat, volume, and speed in music. They also help us create sounds for global music!
Hand Drums:Hand drums are percussion instruments (played by hitting or striking) that are played only with hands instead of drum sticks. We use frame drums in music class. They have 2 parts. The outside is a circular wooden frame or shell. The top is a thin layer of plastic that makes the sound when you hit it with your hand.