Rhythmic Activity Booklet

Introducing children to the

exciting world of percussion!

Music training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm
and harmony find their way into the
secret places of the soul.
-Plato

Music is a language, but a language of

the intangible, a kind of soul-language.
-Edward MacDowell

(Greek philosopher, circa 428 BCE - 348 BCE)

Music can name the unnameable and

communicate the unknowable.
-Leonard Bernstein

Music leads every change, for it is first in

order and power before all learning.
-Aristides Quintilianus
(Greek writer on music, circa 200 ACE)

Music produces a kind of pleasure that

human nature cannot do without.
-Confucius

(American composer and pianist, 1861 - 1908)

(American composer and conductor, 1918 - 1990)

Music is the answer to the mystery of

life. The most profound of all the arts, it
expresses the deepest thoughts of life.
-Arthur Schopenhauer
(German author and philosopher, 1788 - 1860)

(Chinese philosopher, 551 BCE - 479 BCE)

There is nothing better than music as a

means for the upliftment of the soul.
-Inayat Khan

Music washes away from the soul the

dust of everyday life.
-Berthold Auerbach
(German author, 1812 - 1882)

(Indian Sufi master, 1882 - 1927)

Music is FUN!
The drive to create, perform, and reproduce music is common to all mankind, a
drive so basic that when a man cannot
find an instrument to suit him, he creates
his own.
-Joseph Howard

-Latin Percussion
(World leader of percussion, 2001)

(American songwriter, 1878 - 1961)

A Division of Kaman Music Corporation

160 Belmont Avenue, Garfield, NJ 07026
973-478-6903 Fax: 973-772-3568
888-LPMUSIC
lpmusic.com
lprhythmix.com

2004 Latin Percussion A division of Kaman Music Corporation. All rights reserved.
No part of this booklet may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Latin Percussion.
Latin Percussion reserves the right to alter products pictured in this catalog for the sake of improvement.

All LP RhythMix packaging is printed on earth-friendly recycled paper.

Please set an example and help to preserve our childrens tomorrows by recycling!
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Why music?
Music has the power to engage, relax, and energize us and has also been proven to make children smarter. In studies conducted by early
childhood specialists, preschoolers who
received regular music lessons over several months showed marked advantages
over their playmates who did not.
Children dramatically improved their
abilities to work mazes, copy patterns
of color, and draw geometric figures.
These skills reflect spatial intelligence,
the foundation for more complex types
of reasoning (such as those used in
math and science).
Music has been found to stimulate every
area of the developing brain, and similar studies with youngsters have linked
early musical exposure to superior motor
skills and improved social abilities. Although
the ability to learn continues throughout life,
hands-on participation in music between the ages
of three and ten seems to train the brain for higher
thinking, and children who miss out on the fun of playing music may also
miss some critical developmental opportunities.
Essentially, music provides a healthy, natural and invaluable opportunity for
individual expression while encouraging the development of the whole child,
enhancing cognitive, social, physical, and emotional skills.

Why LP RhythMix?
After four decades of innovative design in the world of
percussion, Latin Percussion currently boasts the
largest collection of percussion instruments and
accessories in the world. The same passion for music
and commitment to excellence that started LP in 1964
continues to drive the company today. We are committed to bringing the musician of any level, from the
most demanding pro to the youngest child, the very
best percussion instruments available.
All of us at Latin Percussion take pride in the fact that
you have selected an LP RhythMix product to share
the gift of music with your child.

Gaining confidence with rhythm

Rhythm is inherent in all of us, and is a life-affirming
natural aspect of the human experience. As such,
there is no reason for fear of failure. With simple
experimentation, you will intuitively find your own unique rhythmic voice.
Because children learn by example, what a wonderful gift you can give a
child by learning music with them. By discovering your own rhythmic voice,
you not only show them how to discover their own, but you demonstrate
that "new" and "different" things need not arouse fear or self-consciousness.
You are teaching that lifes simplest "adventures" can be deeply gratifying.

The fact that MUSIC IS FUN should not be underestimated. Stimulating,

amusing activities like playing music will capture and hold your childs interest and satisfy their craving for fun, while providing them with invaluable lessons that will endure the rest of their lives.

How playing music can benefit your child:

Aids academic aptitudes in mathematics, science,and the arts

Promotes large and small motor development
Increases scholastic participation
Teaches the value of achieving goals
Cultivates concentration and focused listening
Fosters early vocal development and enhanced social abilities
Bolsters self image and self assurance
Encourages parent/child bonding when played together
Inspires self-sufficiency and appreciation for teamwork
Enhances creativity

Visit us online at
www.lprhythmix.com
for the latest information, teaching tips,
and rhythmic activities to introduce
children to the exciting world
of percussion!

All LP RhythMix products are ASTM F963-96A and CE child safety approved.

To begin, introduce your child to the physical qualities

of their new instrument
The initial goal is to make your child feel comfortable with their new
instrument. Tell them what the name of the instrument is, and if you like,
you can explain the historic origins as included with all LP RhythMix packaging. Next, show and identify for them all of the different parts of their
instrument, while encouraging them to feel the different materials and
textures. Some areas to consider include: the drum head (playing surface), drum shell (sides of the drum), carry strap, mallet handle,
mallet head (end), handle (on any hand percussion instrument), striker (for a triangle), and even shaker fill
(although they cant see or touch the non-toxic fill, they
can still get a "feel" for it).

Familiarize yourself and your child

with your instruments particular
voice/voices
Invite your child to explore with you all of the
different sounds that they can create with their
new instrument. With any type of drum, experiment with the different sounds you can obtain
by striking the drum head in its center (deeper
sound), the edge (higher sound), and the outer shell
areas. Encourage them to try playing with their hands
in a variety of ways: open-handed vs. closed-handed,
hard, soft, fast, slow, and slap-release vs. slap-hold
(muffled sound). Then ask them to try the same thing
using the mallet head.
Any type of shaker can be shaken quickly, slowly, loudly,
softly, and even in a circle to obtain different sounds. Hand
percussion instruments are available in an amazing variety of
shapes and sizes: clappers, knockers, jingles, bells, tone blocks, etc.
Experiment and enjoy your discoveries!

Rhythm Games
Rhythmic Dialogs
All of these different sounds can be combined to create the liveliest rhythms.
Start a dialog between the different sounds- try a call and response, backand-forth, back-and-forth approach. Coach your child to think of the rhythmic responses as "conversations" that go in a repetitive cycle. Recite the following conversation aloud and ask your child to beat, shake, clap, or jingle
along to the rhythm:
Three fast beats: How are you? (1,2,3)
One slow beat:
Fine. (1)
Three beats:
How are you? (1,2,3)
One beat:
Fine. (1)
Three beats:
How are you? (1,2,3)
Etc.

Once they are comfortable with this simple "conversation", you can
progress to something like this:
Three fast beats: How are you? (1,2,3)
One slow beat:
Fine (1)
Two fast beats:
...and you? (2)
Three fast beats: How are you? (1,2,3)
One slow beat:
Fine (1)
Two fast beats:
...and you? (2)
Etc.

Mimic the familiar rhythms of your childs environment

Help your child to develop their listening skills by encouraging them to tune
into the sounds around them and try to mimic them. Some fun suggestions
are: walking footsteps, skipping footsteps, galloping footsteps, running
footsteps, a ticking clock, even the waves pounding the shore during a family excursion to the beach! The rhythmic possibilities are endless!

Play along with music that appeals to you

and your child
After familiarizing your child with the variety of sounds that
they can create with their new instrument, a terrific way to
get started playing is to drum, shake, tap, or jingle along
with a recorded song. Any lively piece will do!
Simply beat a drum, shake a shaker, or jingle a jingle
stick to the beat. This is a time for experimentation and
discovery. Make an effort to refrain from correcting your
child at this early stage of the game. Remember that there
is no right and wrong-- fun is the name of the game!
Dont be surprised when your child starts to request songs
theyve heard on the radio to play along with! This is a very healthy sign
that they would like to expand their musical repertoire!

The Rhythmic Memory Game

Once a child has learned to listen for the rhythm in recorded music, the wellknown game of Memory (with a new rhythmic twist!) is a natural next step.
When you can hear that the child is successfully mimicking the rhythm in the
piece, stop the music and encourage the child to continue playing solo for
as long as they can. No matter how "perfectly" they perform, congratulate
them for a job well done! Gaining self-confidence is more important than
percussive excellence.
With practice playing along with their favorite tunes, it is only a matter of
time before they can recall the rhythmic parts without first hearing the
whole piece.

Rhythmic Follow the Leader

Loud-and-Quiet (Crescendo and

Decrescendo)

The much-loved game of "Follow the Leader" takes on a whole new educational edge when rhythm is thrown into the mix! This exercise is easy and
amusing, and can be adjusted for players of all levels. Clap a simple rhythm
with your hands and encourage your child to mimic you as they beat a
drum, shake a shaker, or even "clap" one of the Eggheads. Here are a few
suggestions, but remember that the options are endless!

A great way to teach crescendo (loud) and decrescendo

(quiet) sounds is to play this simple game: demonstrate
loud and quiet rhythms, and alternate between them.
Ask the child to listen and lift their arms over their
head to denote loud rhythms, and to fold their arms
over their chests when they hear quiet rhythms.

Start off by simply counting 1 an 2 an, slowly and evenly.

An amusing (and sometimes useful!) variation is to ask the child to play loudly or quietly on request.

Follow the graph below. Clap at the appropriate count as shown in the
corresponding block.
Count
1
an
Clap

an

Clap

an

Clap

an

Clap

an

Clap

2
Clap

(Repeat)

Count
1
an

an

Clap Clap Clap

an

Clap Clap Clap

an

an

High-and-Low

an

an

Clap Clap Clap

(Repeat)

A slightly more advanced version of this exercise is to hide your hands when
clapping, training the child to rely solely on sound. This is a great way to
encourage focused listening skills.
Another variation puts the child in charge, promoting their self-confidence
and leadership qualities. When they become comfortable enough to create
their own rhythms, you can clap along and mimic their rhythmic performance.

Rhythm-Talk
Teach your child that every spoken language has its own unique beat,
and within every sentence, music can be found. If you can say it, you can
play it! Show your child how to clap, rattle, tap, clap, or drum the
rhythm of the following phrases:
All aboard!
Calling all cars! Calling all cars!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Listen to the clock: tick-tock, tick-tock.
Hey, diddle-diddle, the cat and the fiddle,
the cow jumped over the moon.
How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck
wood?
For more variety, try reading sentences aloud from their favorite
books, or phrases from their favorite songs!

To help a child learn to differentiate between

high and low pitches, demonstrate the
sounds on their instrument. You will obtain a
low pitch by striking the center of the drum
head, and a higher pitch when striking the
edge. If you have the LP RhythMix Mini
Bongos, you will notice that the larger drum
head produces a deeper tone than the smaller drum head. The LP RhythMix
3-Piece Box Shakers come in three different sizes and corresponding sounds.
The large-sized box has the lowest pitch, the middle-sized box has the medium pitch, and the small-sized box has the highest pitch. Use the mallet to
strike the LP RhythMix Tone Block near the handle to obtain a higher pitch,
and towards the top edge to obtain a lower pitch.
After a few moments of demonstration, ask your child to give you a "thumbs
up" or "thumbs down" to identify the note as high (up) or low (down).
Once theyve become comfortable with identifying high or low notes, you
can ask them to play a high or low note on request.

Oddball
"Oddball" is a fun game to encourage children to recognize different
rhythms. Simply play three easy rhythms for a child on the instrument of
your choice, having two of them identical and one of them an "oddball".
Your child will enjoy identifying the odd rhythm. You can change instruments
and/or increase the level of rhythmic intricacy as your child progresses.

Rhythmic Counting
Do not underestimate the benefits of reinforcing your childs counting abilities with the FUN involved in creating music! When demonstrating and
inviting them to play their own rhythms, prompt them to notice the numbers involved in the process. Fostering an appreciation for numbers and
numerical relationships now will enhance their skill and appreciation for
mathematics later.

Prompt your child to pay specific attention to the

number of beats in the following rhythms:

Complex rhythms can be played with multiple

players using several different instruments.

LP RhythMix Egg Shakers, Chick-Itas, or Animal Shakers:

LP RhythMix Frame Drum with Drumstick:

Hold a Shaker in each hand, and alternate between them:

Count
1

an

an

Shake Shake Shake

an

an

Shake Shake Shake

(Repeat)

If you have the LP RhythMix Box shakers, note the different sounds
in each of the three Shaker sizes: low, medium, and high.

Strike the center of the drum head twice, and the edge of the drum head
once, then repeat to achieve the two different sounds from this single
instrument:
Count
1

an

an

Boom Boom Boom

an

an

Boom Boom Boom

(Repeat)

LP RhythMix Rhythm Stix:

Count
1

an

Tock

an

Tock

Tock

Tock

an

an

Tock

Tock
(Repeat)

LP RhythMix Drums:

LP RhythMix Triangle:

Use the mallets or hands to tap

the center of the drum head three times,
and then the outer drum shell once,
and repeat:

Count
1

an

an

Ding

Ding

Ding

Ding

Ding

an

an

Ding
(Repeat)

Count
1
Boom

LP RhythMix Jingle Stick:

an

an

an

Boom Boom Boom

Count
1

an

Boom Boom
(Repeat)

If you have the LP RhythMix Bongos, note the different sounds of each of
the two head sizes: high and low.

LP RhythMix Egghead Family:

Hold one Egghead in each hand and alternate between them.
Count
1
Snap

an

an

Snap

Snap

Snap

an

an

Jingle Jingle Jingle

an

Snap

Snap
(Repeat)

an

an

an

Jingle Jingle Jingle

(Repeat)

Organize a Drum Circle for Kids!

What is a community drum circle?
A community drum circle is a group that gathers together to
share a rhythmic and musical experience. Rhythm is a truly universal language; music naturally creates a sense of community
that can bridge any number of gaps and potential biases.
In a community drum circle, the participants act as both audience
and entertainment, sharing a musical experience that results in
harmony, unity, and feelings of wellness for all present. It is very
important to note that the success of a drum circle is not dependent on the groups musical talent or ability. A kids drum circle is
no exception!

Beginning is easy...
A drum circle consists of a group of participants that form a circle
around a central figure: the facilitator. The job of the facilitator is to inspire,
teach, and orchestrate the group to its highest rhythmic potential. Anyone
can act as facilitator, regardless of their musical experience or talent, but
they should possess a few key qualities: lack of inhibition and good communication and listening skills. In the case of a kids community drum circle, an adult is the obvious best choice for the first few trial runs.

To begin, separate the group into sections and demonstrate a simple rhythm
to one group after another, always turning clockwise. Beginning with the
first, demonstrate a simple rhythm and invite them to play along. You can
select any of the rhythms in this booklet to get you started.
Continue around the circle introducing a different rhythm to each section.
Once the group is playing as a unified whole, you can begin to introduce
simple solos that add punctuation to the groups core rhythm. Once comfortable, children will enjoy contributing to this new dynamic by experimenting with solo rhythms of their own.
When you sense a "lull" in the rhythm or diminished energy in the group, this
is known as a "transition point". It is an opportunity to breathe new life into
the drum circle by altering the groups core rhythm. Changing the rhythm of
just one of the sections will have an immediate impact.
Closing a drum circle is easy- when you sense a transition point and feel that
the group doesnt have the energy or desire to continue, simply increase the
volume and tempo to a thundering climax, ending by holding your mallets
high in the air.
An advanced exercise is to invite one player at a time to contribute a new
solo rhythm of their own creation. Train them to actively listen before
adding their own rhythm to the mix. Although it may take some time, you
will be amazed by the magic that will result!