Curated OER
Timbre II
In this music worksheet, students learn that timbre, or tone color, means different kinds of sounds. Students complete 10 questions about timbre and general music topics.
Other
Vic Firth: Snare Drum Rudiments
All 40 of The Percussive Arts Society's Essential Snare Drum Rudiments are found on this site. Each rudiment includes audio and video so you can see and hear how the rudiments should be practiced. There are also many helpful tips on how...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Talking Drums
Engage your young scholars in a lesson about talking drums. Included are various activities that allow the students to experience the concept of the talking drum.
Music Education
Learn About Instruments: The Percussion
Learn general information on different percussion instruments such as the snare drum and cymbals and hear sound clips of these instruments being played.
Other
Drum Bum: A Drum Lessons Database
Providing "Over 400 free Lessons and Tabs," this resource includes learning ideas and information for everyone from the drum novice to the expert. In addition to including lessons on a wide range of instruments, this resource includes...
Other
Drumatix: Vintage & Collectable Drum Center
This site offers vintage and collectable drum products for sale. Lots of images! (Takes a while to load)
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Rhythm in a Box: The Story of the Cajon Drum
Many modern musical instruments are complicated pieces of machinery with many moving parts. But the cajon is simply a drum and a stand and a seat all in one box. Paul Jennings explains the history behind the cajon and how it has become...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Message Drums
How did various cultures communicate before the invention of the telephone, email or telegraph? Discover the use of message drums in this lesson plan.
Other
Vic Firth: Educator's Resource Library
This website is a cornucopia of resources for percussion instruction. There are videos, audiocasts, podcasts, interviews with talented percussionists. Please check out this website is you are interested in any aspect of percussion.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Percussion Instruments and Pitch
Students will enjoy learning about pitch as they construct their own percussion instruments. They will predict and explore how pitches can change based on the materials used and how the instruments are made.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Snare Drum
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...
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Bass Drum
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.
Michigan Reach Out
Michigan Reach Out!: Drums (Sounds Like Science)
This site is provided for by Michigan Reach Out. Students experiment with the variables of force, pitch and volume after making a drum.
Other
Tomas Howie Drumming Web: Reading Music
This site is provided for by Tomas Howie and Drumming Web. Although originally written for the drummer, any aspiring musician could benefit from the explanation of how to read music and the examples it contains. Drummers will want to...
Other
Rhythm Web: Coffee Can Drums
Learn how to make a percussion instrument using a coffee can. This site provides instructions for making the coffee can drum. You can also listen to audio clips of coffee can drums being played in various ways.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Timpani
Have you ever wondered what those big bowl shaped drums were? They are timpani. Use this resource to learn more about them and the percussion family of the orchestra. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the timpani play...
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Tambourine
Use this resource to learn about the percussion family of the orchestra, the tambourine in particular. Learn what it is made of and how it is played. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to listen to the tambourine alone and with the...
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Percussion
A basic article on percussion instruments lists several examples of percussion instruments, provides a distinction between membranophones and idiophones, and lists instruments that are tuned vs. ones that are not.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Caribbean Music: Calypso and Found Percussion
Have your students learning about calypso music with this engaging lesson plan. Learn about calypso rhythms and learn a calypso song.
Curated OER
Merriam Webster: Visual Dictionary Online: Snare Drum
Illustration of a snare drum, with its parts designated.
Other
Notation in Musicator
Site includes music composition software: percussion marking, fret marking, notes, rests, and more.
Curated OER
Coffee Can Drums
Learn how to make a percussion instrument using a coffee can. This site provides instructions for making the coffee can drum. You can also listen to audio clips of coffee can drums being played in various ways.
Quia
Quia: Dear Mr. Henshaw: Parts of a Friendly Letter
A fill-in-the-blank music game on percussion instruments. The student is able to check their answer after each of the 10 questions.
Other
Rhythms of Puerto Rico Plena
Study the rhythms of Puerto Rico through the musical form of the plena. Included are explanations of the different types of drums used in the plena. Audio examples and a pdf document of sheet music demonstrating the plena can also be...