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How Junkyard Percussion Can Save Your Sanity During the Month of May (Part 1 of 3)

5/20/2015

4 Comments

 
Summer is coming. I can feel it. And so can the students...
How Junkyard Percussion Can Save Your Sanity
Soon, so soon...
During the month of May, my lesson planning sometimes comes up short and other times the tail end of a unit simply gets destroyed by the warm weather, field trips, and squirrelly student behavior that only seem to happen in May. Long term objectives can take a back seat for a couple classes during May in the interest of keeping things sane and keeping the kids engaged in making music.

The activities in these next few posts work really well in May and June since they don't require any week to week development and require minimal convincing/explaining/begging with students.
Teach this Piece: One Bucket Groove - Theme and Variations
This activity uses one rhythm in four different ways. Teach the first groove that uses just the rim and center of the bucket. Then proceed to the other variations. Feel free to download the sheet music and project it on the board for your students (or yourself!). 

Watch the video below while following the music but don't get overwhelmed; You don't need to learn all the variations or play them one after another. Just teach the variations that you can easily play confidently. 
Bucket Drumming Theme and Variations
Click to Download
Another idea is to only teach the first groove and then have students come up with their own variations. If an Admin walks in the room, explain that you are teaching a "Theme and Variations" lesson with student composition. Smile and give yourself a high five for being awesome in the month of May.  
Why will it work during the final months? 

It only uses one rhythm pattern which:
  • simplifies student focus
  • reduces the number of things students have to attend to at once
  • reduces the number of things the teacher has to attend to 

Learn other survival skills at the Summer Junkyard Percussion Workshop. An all-day professional development workshop that shows you everything you need to teach bucket drumming. 
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4 Comments
Carolyn J. Davis
8/24/2019 04:46:23 am

I have this book. Thanks for demonstrating how it works! I will be using more selections in it.

Reply
David
8/25/2019 07:54:15 pm

Awesome, thanks for picking up a copy of the book, Carolyn. Let me know if you have any questions!

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Marie Chase link
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    I'm David Birrow. I teach and play percussion. This blog is a companion to The Bucket Book. Contact me at : David@TheBucketBook.com or learn more about me at: www.DavidBirrow.com

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