Our First Drum Word

In today's drumming session, Kindergarten and Grade One students reviewed the first four sounds of the "drumming alphabet".   Here's what we learned:

When we bounce our strong hand (the hand we use to write) in the center of the drum, it makes a low bass tone called Goon.  When we bounce our weak hand in the center, we play the other bass tone called Doon.   

Hands ready to play Goon Doe

Then we pull our hands to the edge, so that only our fingers rest on the head of the drum.  When we strike the drum here we make the two treble sounds of the drum, called Goe (strong hand) and Doe (weak hand).

After practicing these sounds in isolation, students then put these drum "letters" together to form our first drum "word" - Goon Doe.  If you look carefully at the picture, you'll see a strong hand ready to play Goon in the center of the drum, and a weak hand on the edge ready to play the Doe.  

So much to remember!  But once we were settled into the pattern, each pair of hands began to move in time with the other hands around the circle.  Each time we play, we work towards moving as one - one drum, one voice, one heart.  Together we can forge a connection that goes beyond words, and experience the power of belonging to a community!