Woods, Metals, Shakers, Skins

Artie Almeida shares her best strategy for classroom percussion instruments: using plastic hoops to organize the classroom! Groups of students gather around hoop stations, each group has the chance to play from a specific percussion family - and then they switch to a new group. Students experience different timbres and playing techniques, and the built-in lessons provide learning at the same time.

This resource contains two sections of lessons: the first half works on identifying and playing non-pitched percussion timbres while performing along with poems, songs, and children's books. The second half of lessons contain percussion routines accompanied by recorded music in a variety of genres. 

Skills and concepts addressed include beat competency, rhythmic subdivision, form, improvisation, timbre, and tempo.  Music theory and literacy are included in every lesson, along with opportunities for developing teamwork and camaraderie.  Additionally, the lessons reinforce the foundational language arts skills of directionality and fluency. 

Digital resources are provided with PDF visuals and scores, in addition to Artie's curated Spotify and iTunes playlists. 

Grades K-5.

First Half Lessons (Hoop Group Routines) include:

• Timbre Talk
• Timbre Time
• B-I-N-G-O
• Play Percussion
• Body Percussion to Non-Pitched Percussion
• Time to Play Percussion
• A Sailor Went to Sea
• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
• I-M-P-R-O-V-I-S-E
• Rhythms and Rhymes
• Tony chestnut
• Old Brass Wagon

Second Half Lessons (Hoop Groups Routines with Recorded Music) include:

• When the Saints Go Marching In
• The Chicken Dance
• The Hampster Dance
• Get Ready for This
• The Archies: Sugar, Sugar
• Purcell: Entrada from The Indian Queen
• Tchaikovsky: Trepak from The Nutcracker Suite
• Anderson: The Syncopated Clock
• Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 5
• Anderson: Bugler's Holiday