Minds On
Let’s explore drumming!
Do you know what a drum is? What does it look like? What does it sound like?
Let’s explore the following video about two friends, Kairo and Nathaniel, who share their music and culture in African drumming.
Kairo plays the djembe and Nathaniel plays the doundoun.
Brainstorm
Brainstorm
What did you see, think or wonder about the drumming in the video?
Record your thoughts.
If possible, share your ideas with a partner.
As you work through this learning activity, you can record your ideas in many ways.
Listen to the following audio recording to learn more about how to record your ideas.
How to Record Your Ideas
Action
Let's start drumming!
Possible materials
- items to use as a drum (pots, pans, plastic containers, etc.)
- objects to strike a drum (spoons, sticks, markers, etc.)
Now it’s your turn to drum!
Before getting started, ask permission from a trusted adult.
Search your learning space for something you can use as a drum and a drumstick.
Check out these images for more ideas!
You can use a pot and a spoon as a drum and drumstick.
You could use a cushion or furniture as a drum.
You could use toys as a drum and drumsticks.
Have you chosen your materials?
Were you able to choose them on your own?
Playing your drum
Now that we have our drum, how can we be sure that we are playing the drum correctly?
Check out the following video to learn about how a drum could be played.
What does the group's drumming sound like to you?
Can you make your own drumming sound?
Practice playing your drum.
Pause and Reflect
Pause and reflect
Let’s reflect on our drumming:
- How does the music make you feel? Why?
- Have you ever heard drumming like this before? Where?
Record your thoughts.
Drumming your feelings
Explore different ways of drumming:
- How could you beat the drum if you were angry?
- How could you beat the drum if you were sad?
- How could you beat the drum if you were happy?
Consolidation
Cultural drumming
Check out the following video to learn about hand drumming with Lovely.
Lovely is an 8-year-old girl and lives in Toronto, Ontario. She is from the Dakota Plains First Nation, and also has an Ojibwe, African, and Filipino background. She tells us about why drumming is important to her culture and why she loves it so much.
What do you notice about Lovely’s drumming?
What is her drum made of?
What other thoughts do you have about drumming?
Pause and Reflect
Think
What did you enjoy about drumming today? Why?
Record your thoughts.
If possible, share your thinking with a partner.
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Press the button next to the sentence that matches how you feel.
