Many cultures tell their stories to the beat of a drum. Drums not only add accompaniment, but also can contribute countless fun sound effects. For a warm up, parents can ask kids how certain sounds can be represented on a drum. Some good ideas for starters include: sneaky footsteps, running footsteps, a giant’s footsteps, a snake, raindrops, a kangaroo, and a horse’s gallop.
Using Drums, Kids Make a Rain Storm
Another fun drum lesson for kids involving sound effects is imitating a rain storm. This activity works best with several drummers seated in a circle. The leader will start a sound and then that sound will be repeated in a chain around the circle.
To begin, the leader rubs the drum head for a sound of wind. Once the rubbing has made it around the circle, she will then tap fingers for rain. Once everyone is tapping, the leader will start a rumble for thunder. The leader can take the sounds in reverse to end the storm.
Using Drums in Children’s Stories
Incorporating drumming into storytelling is fun. Kids can start off with stories they know best. For example, in Jack and the Beanstalk, they can use their drums to represent the growing beanstalk, jack’s running, the giant’s steps, and climbing up and down. In the Tortoise and the Hair, kids can tell the story experimenting with fast and slow tempo. Noah’s Ark offers great animal footsteps and storm sound effects. In Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, drum volume and pitch can be used to voice Mama, Papa, and Baby Bear.
Once kids have gotten the hang of using drums in storytelling, they can try a few less familiar folktales. The Leopard’s Drum and The Cat’s Purr are great starters since both feature drumming as a central theme.
The Leopards Drum, Kids Learn a West African Folktale
In this picture book by Jessica Souhami, Leopard built a marvelous drum. It was such a wonderful drum that all the animals and even the sky god himself wanted to play it. But Leopard did not want to share his drum. This makes the sky god very angry. Kids can have fun grooving like Leopard as they tell the first part of the story, and then experiment to find a way to represent the angry sky god with drum sounds.
As the story goes on, the sky god promises an excellent reward to any animal that can bring the drum to him. The first animal to try is Python. He slithers sneakily over to Leopard and tries to snatch the big drum. Kids can rub their hands on the drum head to sound like a slithering snake.
Of course, Leopard roars and shows his terrible claws to frighten poor Python away. Kids can drum this part of the story with angry beats and some fast slithering.
Next comes big elephant and then tiny monkey. Each is frightened away by fierce Leopard. Kids will have fun figuring out how to make their drum into a stomping elephant or climbing monkey. They can add any other animals they like as well.
Finally, turtle comes. No one thinks turtle has a chance. He is slow, small, and has a very soft shell, but turtle is also clever. Kids will need to watch their tempo to imitate a pokey tortoise during this part.
Turtle admires Leopard’s drum and says, “It’s a shame your drum isn’t as large as the sky god’s drum. His drum is so large, he can climb right inside.” Not to be outdone, Leopard wriggles and wiggles until he stuffs himself into his own drum. Turtle laughs and covers the drum with a pot. Then he drags the drum all the way back to the sky god. The sky god is so pleased that he rewards turtle with a very hard shell--the same shell he wears to this day.
The Cat’s Purr, Drum a Kids’ West African Folktale
In this picture book by Ashley F. Bryan, Cat’s uncle gives him a special drum. When cat plays the drum softly, it sounds like a gentle “Purrum, purrum.” Parents and kids can try a soft roll on their drums to get as close as they can to a purring sound.
In the story, Cat is so proud of his new drum that he doesn’t want anyone else to play it. Mouse is angry about this because he just shared his flute with cat the other day. Kids can experiment to find a drum noise for Mouse—perhaps clicking their fingernails on the drum to represent tiny paws.
Of course, Mouse can’t resist Cat’s new drum. One day, he pretends to be sick. He stays in bed while Cat goes off to work in the garden. But as soon as Cat is gone, Mouse jumps out of bed and starts drumming. Cat hears and runs home only to find mouse lying quietly in bed. Kids can use their drums to illustrate this part of the story as it is told. What would running mouse paws sound like?
This happens several times until Cat gets smart and watches in the window. As soon as he sees Mouse drumming, Cat runs inside with his mouth wide open. To save himself, Mouse shoves the new drum into Cat’s mouth. This is why cats purr like a drum and chase mice even today.
Kids will want to put emotion into the drumming at this point. How would a sneaky cat sound on a drum? How can they show that the cat is angry? How would a cat and mouse chase sound?
In related articles, parents and teachers can read about first drum lessons for kids, incorporating drums in children’s games, and fun drums kids can make at home.
Marcy Paulson - From the moment Marcy Paulson picked up a recorder in fourth grade music class, she was hooked. Since then, her passion for music has ...
