DRUMS - Build your own classroom drum!

If you have ever been to the Ron Clark Academy, you have had the privilege of hearing the sounds and music making its way out of the school. It almost sounds like an amusement park! These sounds are not kids just going crazy. The sounds are made with precision, accuracy, engagement, excitement, and joy! One of the keys I found at the school was the implementation of the djembe drum. Most people are beyond confusion as to why you need a drum in your classroom. From personal experience and observation, implementing drums within the classroom delivers a bit of spunk and excitement. To me personally it keeps my students focused and it gets rid of that dead silence. When I first introduced the drum, the students were a bit skeptical but as time went by they all wanted a shot at it! Now this doesn't go without having a bit of rules in your class as to when they are allowed to hit the drum and when they aren't. For example: When a new topic is introduced or when we applaud someones efforts together by all means ... GO CRAZY! The issue is that most teachers can't afford that sexy $150 Celtic X8 Djembe that sounds great. Just this morning the coolest idea hit me during my morning shake. An empty jug of protein would suffice nicely! Just rip off the label, decorate, put holes in the bottom, hand it to a student, and you are set! Ask around your school to see if teachers or students drink protein (try the athletic department) and when they finish their jug off, ask if you can have it! Of course, tons of ideas are available that make this magic happen in your classroom! Hopefully this gets your creative juices flowing! ENJOY : )