Drum, Baby Drum!
The big bass drum is probably the most requested instrument in music class. Besides being a great way to get out aggressions 
we learn a lot when we drum in music class.
The very first thing we learn is how to share space around the drum. That is often easier said than done. Our big bass drums fit from 6-8 children around them, depending on the age of the children and there is always someone who doesn’t want to share or who decides that laying on the drum is a good idea.
The next thing is exposure to steady beat. All children have an internal steady beat – they need it to crawl and walk. Following an external beat needs to be learned. The easiest way to encourage them is to have the music follow them. You might occasionally notice in class that I am trying match a child’s drumming. This is to give them the experience of being with the music. Eventually they will be able to be with the music themselves rather than the music being with them.
We also learn about soft and loud and the physical force and control they require. Giving each child a chance to choose whether to play loud or soft gives them an opportunity to express themselves. A high-energy child will generally choose to play loud and a laid-back or cautious child will generally choose to play soft. I am always delighted when a child chooses the option that seems to be contrary to the mood or personality they are projecting. It reminds me that no child is one-dimensional.
These are just a few of the wonderful things we learn from the big bass drums.
