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Sound - Pitch on Percussion & Wind Instruments
Objectives
To investigate different drums and rattles for pitch.
Resources
Variety of home-made drums
Today's Lesson
Main Activity
Watch the video How do drums make sound?
Then, using plastic sheeting and a variety of different sized pots or buckets, make up a few different sized drums by stretching strong plastic sheets over the tops of pots and securing with elastic bands.
Investigate together which of the made-up drums give the highest and lowest pitches when struck. Ask your child to look carefully at the instruments and to try to determine what factors affect the pitch.
For example:
- How tightly is the plastic is stretched over the vessel?
- How large is the container?
- How deep or shallow is the container?
- Is it a result of all the different factors?
Together, experiment and investigate the different pitches and try to establish what combinations of factors will create the highest and lowest pitches.
Next, access the internet and listen to some music from steel bands with your child. Draw attention to which part of the pan is being struck to create the different pitches. Try to see and if there is some sort of scale to the pans, or if the different sounds created are just random, and discuss this with your child.
Do they think someone could pick up another person’s steel drum and be able to play it, or does each person need to learn where the different pitches are on each drum they play?
Finally, consolidate your child’s understanding by watching a video clip on making steel drums and how they are played.