Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Creative Uses For Rhythm Sticks

By Lora Jones


When considering a learning tool that is inexpensive to obtain and easy to use in numerous ways, it is tough to beat the advantages offered by rhythm sticks. Including them in any classroom setting will result in many activities that you and your students will all love. All educational environments can benefit from having them available.

Numerous locations, such as music stores and educational supply chains, have rhythm sticks available if you want to buy ones that are already assembled. They can often be bought in bulk for very reasonable rates, and great deals can be found, particularly if you check their online locations. For large groups, this is an easy option that will have you using your new tools in no time.

However, they are also very easy to make on your own. All you need for a basic set is the stick itself and whatever decorations you would like. The stick is generally made of a simple wooden dowel, which can be obtained at most craft or hardware stores, and decorations can be anything from simple paint to glitter and various fabrics.

Although you can build the sticks yourself, it often gives students a sense of involvement to do it themselves. This way, they will know that the end product was created by them, and they can feel proud of their creation. Every time you use the personalized sticks, they will feel a little special knowing that theirs are unique.

If you would like to have a few sets that sound just a little bit different, you can vary the basic assembly a bit to achieve this effect. The dowels themselves can be cut into slightly different lengths and widths to produce various different tones when they are struck, and you can also wrap cloth around parts of them to change their effects. Try a few varied combinations and see what you can come up with.

Once you and your students have your sticks ready, there are many things you can do with them. Musical exercises are the most obvious choice, so start out by choosing a few simple rhythms and seeing if they can be replicated. This sort of easy call-and-answer game tests not only pattern recognition, but also ability to copy and repeat information.

Playing basic musical tracks can also be effective, as students will love to tap along with the beat. You can also supply different safe surfaces that they can tap on to hear the different effects that are produced. This can be a great way to introduce musical instruments to the group, and perhaps to get some of them interested in trying one that is a bit more involved.

In the ongoing search for fun, effective, and versatile teaching tools, rhythm sticks are a resource that should not be underestimated. With very little investment required, you and your students can be learning and having fun in no time. They will love how many things can be done with them, and you will love how easy they are to incorporate into the classroom.




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