Greetings from the Music Department! 

We are wanting your music experience to be as exciting as we can make it, so we have listed some items that could be found at home, at the Dollar Tree, hardware stores and online.  

General Music Kit - BASIC

A gallon-sized bag or shopping bag to hold your kit.

A shaker

You could use a small plastic container like a food starge container or empty milk bottle. These would need to be taped closed for younger children.

Put maybe 20 popcorn seeds or other small items inside. Some possibilities could be dried beans, paperclips, beads, small stones - use your imagination!

Two wooden sticks of some kind

While you probably don’t have rhythm sticks, lummi sticks or even drum sticks at your house, you might have:

• Pencils (2)
• Dowels (wooden rods) (2)
• Wooden spoons (2)

Best case is that the two objects are the same size and weight

A scraper of some sort

One very inexpensive idea is a pool noodle scraper (I may make some of these for the classroom - they work great and they’re indestructible!) Here’s a video of a master teacher showing how to make them - super simple! 

Scarf for movement

Any type of scarf will work.  I have also used dishtowels, even socks.  

Soprano Recorder (grades 3-5)

Older students (grades) will need a soprano recorder. If you don’t have one, you can pick one up at school (brand new) for $4.50. This is a REQUIRED item for grades 4-5 from the beginning of the year. Grade 3 students start recorder in January.

General Music Kit - ADD ONs

A container to hold your stuff.

A small trash can or other bin could also be used as a drum. The one pictured here is about 7” tall and costs around $8.

If you’re using a zip bag to hold your stuff, you will need some sort of drumming container. Ideas other than a plastic trash can:

• Large yogurt container
• Powdered protein container
• Any kind of bucket
• Cardboard box

Now, if you happen to have a hand drum of some sort in your house, then you’re already there!

Metal instrument

It would be great if I had enough triangles or finger cymbals for every student, but we don’t. The “ting” sound is what we’re looking for here so if you have something at home that gives that sort of sound, you’re good to go. If not, here are some options. I’ve put a couple of options here but you only need ONE thing. Again, if you can come up with that sound from something around the house, that’s awesome!

Musician’s Friend has an inexpensive classroom triangle for around $2.59.

Finger Cymbals:

Musician’s Friend has a set of finger cymbals for around $5.50 for a pair. I’ve also seen costume places sell them for less although the sound won’t be as good (probably fine for right now).

Melody instrument

If you have a piano or other pitched instrument, that would be just fine. 

A small glockenspiel is relatively inexpensive. These are sometimes “baby toys” and that’s fine for what we will be doing. Here is one I found one for around $14 on Amazon.