Themes & Variations

A collection of activities to get preschool - Grade 5 children playing, listening, creating and reading music using non-pitched percussion instruments. Written by Denise Gagne

Let's Get Started!
Play and Stop
Let's Play Instruments
Play and Play and Stop
Ways to Play Instruments
Instrument Rules
Simon Says
Beat and Name Chants
Introducing Instrument Families
How to Play Rhythm Instruments

Play and Sing
If You're Happy
Let Everyone Play Sticks

Instrument Families
Play, Play, Play Along
Play Along K-3
Sticks are Tapping

Listening Activities
Who is Tapping?
What am I Tapping On?
What is in the Shakers?
Guess the Instrument

Play Along
Play Along with Bach
Play Along with Handel
Play Along with Mozart
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Rhythm Band, Scarves

Relative Note Values
Relative Note Values-Large Notes
St. Anne's Reels
Surfin Rock
Ramsey St. Blues

Note Switch Activities
Piano Roll
Stick Notes

Stories - Add Sound Effects
Mortimer
Mmm Cookies
Rain Rain Story
Mr. Frog Story
Bell Horses Story

Create and Play
Copy What I'm Going to Play
Improvise and Copycat Game
Question and Answer
Hey! Hey! Rondo

Worksheets/Assessment
Rhythm Instrument Matching
Name the Instrument
Which Instrument Did I Hear?
Instrument Family Matching
Rhythm Instrument Families