Nursery World - Shake, rattle and roll (1)

This activity is based on a free piece of music software from Northumberland Grid for Learning at www.ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk. Click the resources button and choose Music. The piece of software to download is called Music House. This is an interactive musical activity focusing on four percussion instruments. After downloading the file, just double click it to run the program. You might like to consider linking the computer up to a good set of speakers. The software introduces children to four percussion instruments: the drum, tambourine, maracas and cymbals. If you have these instruments in school, 'introduce' them to the children. Talk about each instrument, give its name and let them try out the sounds they can make. Now play the first computer activity as a group, as this too explores the sound of each instrument.

The software introduces children to four percussion instruments: the drum, tambourine, maracas and cymbals. If you have these instruments in school, 'introduce' them to the children. Talk about each instrument, give its name and let them try out the sounds they can make. Now play the first computer activity as a group, as this too explores the sound of each instrument.

Choose a pupil to click on an instrument to play its sound. Does it sound similar to the real thing? Explore the other instruments until everyone is familiar with their sounds.

Name that tune

For the second activity, divide the class into four instrument groups. Hide the screen, click the arrow and listen to the instrument. Ask children in the correct instrument group to put up their hands. They need to get all the four instruments correct before they can move on.

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