Thee Basic Approaches to Standard Instruments

Ukulele

This is a basic sequence that has been put together mainly from Youtube videos. 

Guitar

Here are some materials for beginning guitar. You can use a D Standard Tuning (DGCFAD) and play this sequence along with the ukuleles.​

Ocarina

Ocarinas are fun and relatively easy to play for beginners. The sound is a bit mellower than a recorder and it is less likely to squeak. 

Two Basic Approaches to Rhythmic Literacy 

Rhythm Sticks

Children love rhythm sticks. A well-designed and well-organized learning sequence can channel that inherent motivation in meaningful ways. 

Echo and Answer

This learning experience can serve as a basic attention getter AND as the foundation to understanding rhythm and developing grooves.
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General Considerations and Creativity

A traditional approach in American schools to exploring musical instruments is to discuss and identify them in terms of woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion. This approach comes from the old "music appreciation" movement which attempts/attempted to get students to "appreciate" classical music. As such, it centers on the instrument families in a standard classical orchestra. Music around the world is much, much broader than that with an enormous array of musical instruments. Some people consider the Hornbostel-Sachs system, developed by ethnomusicologists to be more comprehensive in the classification of musical instruments from around the world. Hornbostel and Sachs divided instruments into Idiophones (the instrument itself vibrates, like a wood block), Aerophones (the air stream creates the vibrations) , Chordophones (strings), and Membranophones (drums). 

Many teachers approach instrument making as an extension of science—the science of sound, experimentation, and problem solving. From this perspective, students are encouraged to explore a variety of sounds around the room or sounds in household/everyday things. One of my favorite sounds is produced by striking a metal bowl that has a bit of water in it. Encourage children to discover and categorize a wide variety of sounds. For classrooms, I suggest bringing and having students bring materials to class to explore making music instruments, rather than sending the assignment home and imposing on family time.

​To apply original instruments in the classroom or home, you can follow my instructions for creating Grooves. 

Here's my favorite video of someone playing a drinking straw (below). There are hundreds of videos for exploring music instruments and sound.