+
Activity
Other

Creative Kids at Home: Rain Sticks

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Making homemade instruments is always fun for young kids. Help them make these percussion rain sticks using ordinary materials. Kids will have fun decorating and playing their rain sticks.
+
PPT
Other

Alien Travel Guide: Musical Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains links to articles that explain how musical instruments work, describes vocal mechanics, and the three main vocal groups.
+
Activity
Other

The Mudcat Cafe: Gourd Rattlers

For Students 3rd - 5th
What is a calabash? Use this website and find out what it is but also how to make it. This gourd rattler can be constructed with the easy to follow directions.
+
Website
Other

Springfield Public School District: Elizabethan England

For Students 9th - 10th
Springfield Public School District provides comprehensive information on England during the Elizabethan time period. Includes historical figures and events, everyday life, arts and architecture, Shakespeare, and it offers links to other...
+
Website
Other

Hammer Dulcimers: What Do Hammered Dulcimer's Look Like?

For Students 9th - 10th
Pictures of homemade dulcimers. A site for Charlie Alm's book "The Hammer Dulcimer".
+
Handout
Music Education

Learn About Instruments: Strings

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn general information about various string instruments, including the viola and cello, and hear audio clips to hear what these instruments sound like when played.
+
Lesson Plan
Other

The Mudcat Cafe: Make Your Own Drums

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Hands-on-activity for making music. Find out how to make your own drums at this website. Explore and have fun with music.
+
Activity
Other

The Mudcat Cafe: Blocks, Bells, Box Drums and Mallets

For Students 3rd - 5th
Have you ever wondered how to make homemade musical instruments? Use this site to find out how to construct sandpaper blocks and mallets.
+
Interactive
New York Times

New York Times: Crossword Puzzle: Musical Instruments

For Teachers 9th - 10th
An interactive and printable crossword puzzle developed by the New York Times Learning Network. The theme of this puzzle is Musical Instruments.
+
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Music for Kids: Woodwind Instruments

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site contains information about various musical woodwind instruments like the flute, clarinet, and oboe. Learn about their styles of music and how they work.
+
Activity
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Story Place: The All Star Band

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Help the band leader select instruments for his band and then listen to them play "If You're Happy."
+
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Native American Music

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a flipchart containing some of the Native American Instruments, materials they are made of, and the purpose of the music. There are two Activote questions.
+
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Orchestra Instruments

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart describes the various instrument families and the instruments that fit in each family. Sound files are attached to the instruments so that students can hear what each sounds like.
+
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Peter and the Wolf

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a music flipchart about the famous story and composition Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev.
+
Article
Other

Aloha From Hawaii: The Ukulele

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents a short article about the ukulele that explains how the instrument came to be identified with Hawaii.
+
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Violin

For Students 3rd - 5th
Read about the violin, as well as a few other string instruments. Use Windows Media Player or Real Audio to listen to three violin samples. Pictures of the instrument are also provided.
+
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Viola

For Students 3rd - 5th
Read about how the viola fits into the string family of musical instruments. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to samples of the viola solo and with the orchestra. There are also pictures of the viola. Does it look like...
+
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Snare Drum

For Students 3rd - 5th
Use this resource to learn about the percussion family of instruments, especially the snare drum. Find out how it helps the orchestra make music. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the snare drum by itself and with the...
+
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Harp, String Instrument

For Students 3rd - 5th
Use this resource to learn about the harp, find out how it is played and see pictures. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the harp play with the rest of the orchestra.
+
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Double Bass

For Students 3rd - 5th
The double bass is the largest string instrument, and is the bass member of the family. Read about how to play this instruments and how it works. Use Windows Media Player or RealAudio to listen to samples of the double bass on it's own...
+
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Cymbals

For Students 3rd - 5th
Learn about the ways to play the cymbals and how they contribute to the sound of the orchestra. Use RealAudio to listen to cymbals alone and with the orchestra. Pictures of the instrument are also provided.
+
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Cello

For Students 3rd - 5th
Read about the cello, the tenor member of the string family. Use Windows Media Player or RealAudio to listen to three samples if the cello on its own and with the orchestra. Pictures of the instrument are also provided.
+
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Bass Drum

For Students 3rd - 5th
Read about the percussion family of the orchestra. Find out how the bass drum helps the sound of the orchestra. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the bass drum.
+
Website
Other

Dulcimer Players News

For Students 9th - 10th
A great site for articles and current issues about those that play the dulcimer.