Have your kids ever tried playing percussion and drums with their friends? If yes, maybe you can help them tap into the creative flow of a drum circle! Drum circles are a fantastic way to perform music together and build relationships; making them a fantastic team-building activity. Thanks to our collection of 20 activities, your kiddos and their friends can participate in fun drum circle games such as playing various rhythms, switching off as the leader, and even writing their own tunes!
1. Name Rhythms
Have kids make a fascinating rhythm out of the syllables of their names before playing them in a steady beat. Next, they can use their hands or feet to create sounds; enhancing their motor skills and social skills as they go.
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2. Call and Response
One kid begins by creating a beat, and everyone else imitates it. They can use their voices, hands, or even instruments to create sounds. Let your kids take the lead and see what wonderful rhythms they can create!
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3. Pass the Beat
Students will stand in a circle and create a beat to pass along the line. Everybody contributes their special rhythm to the beat; elongating and enhancing it. Challenge them to see how long they can carry the beat!
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4. Body Percussion
In this activity, your kids can produce music with their bodies- meaning that no instruments are required! They can clap, snap, stomp, and even use their voices to make amusing rhythms.
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5. Drum Jam
Begin with a straightforward beat and then have your students add their own distinctive sounds. Then, to create a catchy song, they’ll pay attention to one another and build on each other’s rhythms.
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6. Rhythm Storytelling
Let kids use their drums to narrate a tale! They can take turns performing rhythms that correspond to certain scenes in the story. For instance, they could create a quick beat for the thrilling bits and a sluggish beat for the depressing ones.
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7. Rhythm Charades
Kids can take turns acting out a rhythm using their drums or other instruments while the other group members try to identify it. You can make it more difficult by incorporating various rhythms from different cultures or adding unique sound effects.
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8. Guided Meditation
Kids can create drum rhythms to accompany a guided meditation while listening to it. For relaxation, they could play gentle, soothing beats. Let them use their music to get centered and find peace.
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9. Rhythm Circle
Form a circle and create a basic rhythm with drums before introducing more intricate rhythms. Kids will listen to each other as they play and check to see how their rhythms mesh to create a quirky tune.
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10. World Music
Play music from other civilizations and have your learners attempt to play drums or other instruments in time with the beats they hear. This activity is wonderful to incorporate into a geography lesson and gives your students an opportunity to explore the incredible rhythms and music throughout the globe!
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11. Rhythm Sculptures
By using their drums or other instruments, learners can stack several beats on top of one another to create a “sculpture” of rhythms. They can compose a wonderful song by taking turns adding their distinctive rhythms to the mix.
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12. Silent Drumming
Challenge your kids to try playing their drums without creating any noise! They can play various rhythms without generating a sound by tapping their feet or performing hand motions.
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13. Rhythm Relay
Kids will use a relay system to pass a beat around the circle. Starting with a simple rhythm, they can gradually introduce more intricate rhythms. Then, before handing it off to the following person, each learner will play the rhythm. See how quickly they can move without any errors!
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14. Rhythm Orchestra
Invite kids to assemble an “orchestra” of sounds by each picking a different percussion instrument. They can experiment with various rhythms to hear how they blend. Try various instrument arrangements to let kids produce their distinctive sounds!
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15. Rhythm Patterns
Let kids design and play various rhythmic patterns! Starting with a simple pattern, they can gradually build complexity. Everybody will take turns creating a new pattern that the group can repeat. Finally, try to create the longest rhythm pattern you can!
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16. Rhythm and Movement
Get kids up and moving while they play the drums; perhaps by marching, jumping, or dancing. This is a wonderful way to get active while developing various rhythms to accompany a piece of upbeat music.
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17. Song Adaptations
Turn a well-known song into a drumbeat! With their drums or other instruments, kids can learn the rhythm of a song that they recognize before putting their own unique twist on it!
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18. Rhythm Cards
Starting with simple rhythms on a card, kids can gradually introduce more complex ones. Then, each participant can draw a card and play the rhythm in turn. See how many different beats they can create!
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19. Rhythm Conversation
Have kids design rhythms that “talk” to one another; resulting in a musical dialogue. Each individual will play a rhythm in turn and the next person will answer with their own rhythm. They’ll converse musically while listening to one another!
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20. Rhythm Games
Let kids engage in some enjoyable drumming games! One example is musical chairs; having your learners stop playing when the music stops and move around with their instruments. They can even invent rhythm games such as passing the beat.
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