Oh, the ocean drum! It is a favorite of young and old. A music therapist has many uses for this delightful instrument.

You can use it for relaxation or stimulation. You can use it as a sound effect or as a focal point for sharing. You can pass it around a circle. You can play it over someone’s head. Maybe you count coins on it. You can probably think of more!

Maybe you play your ocean drum and just listen to it. Maybe you improvise a song with it. Maybe you sing songs about water. I do a combination of these. But, in case you are hard-pressed to come up with a new ocean drum song, I am listing some for your enjoyment. Maybe you’ll find something you haven’t tried yet.

Crawdad Hole
Down by the Bay
Peace like a River
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Down by the Riverside
Joy to the World (as in “Jeremiah was a Bullfrog”)
Big Wave (Pearl Jam)
Splish Splash
Surfin’ USA
A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea
Don’t Rock My Boat
Shall We Gather At the River
Wishy Washy Wee
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

To see our collection of Ocean Drums, click here.