Instrument Timbre

This is an activity/game that I got from an Orff Workshop with Randy Delelles and Jeff Kriske . If you ever have a chance to go to a workshop where they are presenting, it is worth the time and money. I've seen them twice and I've always come away with amazing ideas and lessons.  This is one of many of their awesome ideas:


This is 100% not my idea. I hope I don't get in trouble for sharing it! Please give DeLelles and Kriske your support. I do this activity with Kindergarten every year.

"Little Bo Peep"
I teach them the "Little Bo Peep" nursery rhyme. Once they have the words well, I add a pat/clap/pat/clap pattern as they say the rhyme. They can say the rhyme, plus pat and clap the beat. Then,  I take out the following instruments (Sometimes this is a review of instrument, sometimes this is the first time they have seen or played these instruments):  Woodblock, Guiro, Triangle, Cowbell, drum, tambourine. We talk about what they are made of, how they are played and the names of the instruments. Then I show them the cards with the "shapes". We discuss how the cards represent each instrument.   


I then say the rhyme that Delelles and Kriske wrote that continues after the nursery rhyme.  I don't teach this second part, they just join in when they get it, and they do get it.


The whole poem that is said, while they are patting knees and clapping goes as follows:


"Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep,
and can't tell where to find them,
leave them alone and they'll come home,
wagging their tails behind them.


You can help her find her sheep and
you don't have to look around.
For one of them has an instrument,
just listen for the sound."




Each student has a set of cards (I keep them in small ziplock bags). One of each instrument is hidden behind my piano on the floor, so the class can't see them.  One student goes behind the piano. That student is the "lost sheep".  The rest of the class says the rhyme and pats/claps. After we say "just listen for the sound". The student behind the piano plays one of the instruments. The class holds up which ever instrument card they think they heard.  Then it repeats with everyone having a turn to play an instrument.  The kids love this. It is a great lesson to teach timbre - wood, metal, membrane. It is a good way to assess how well students can hear the different timbres.