African Drums 

5th Grade , General Music 

Prepared by Mrs. B 

OVERVIEW & PURPOSE 

Students will take the various rhythms they learned in the previous lesson to play a 
variety of African Drums. They will demonstrate basic understanding of how to play the 
drums, call and response rhythms, improv, and creating their own rhythms. Students 
will be using a variety of rhythms such as, quarter notes and eighth notes.  

EDUCATION STANDARDS 

1. MU.CR.1.5a  

OBJECTIVES 

1. Students will use improvisation to create various rhythms.  

Vocabulary Words 
1. Dynamics   6. Mezzo piano  
2. Tempo   7. Piano  
3. Forte   8. Improv. 
4. Mezzo forte  
 
5. Mezzo  

MATERIALS NEEDED 

1. African Drums and various percussion equipment  

VERIFICATION 

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Steps to check for student understanding 

1. Since the teacher will be with the students in the drum circles she will be able to 
assess how each student is doing in class.  

ACTIVITY 

Describe activity that will reinforce the lesson 

Activity 1: Drum Circle  

● Students will be placed in a circle with various percussion instruments. We will 

begin with a simple call and response started by the teacher. After 1 minute, we 
will switch and the students will take turns going in a circle coming up with their 
own rhythms and having their peers play it back to them.  
○ This activity will probably occur twice during the class.  
● Students will be introduced to the world of improvisation. Students will be in a 
circle with the various percussion instruments. Each different type of drum will 
get a different rhythm using the rhythms from the previous lesson. When the 
teacher gives the signal to stop, the person next in the circle will play 8 beats of an 
improvised solo. This will continue around the circle.  
● See video for inspiration for final performance idea: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClcdqAVK4XY  

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