Essential Instruments for Primary Classrooms

Dr Liz Stafford shares her instrumental must-haves.

Melody–makers

For accessibility you can’t beat chime bars and boomwhackers, for the ability to instantly play a melody with no special training required!

TOP TIP: Always purchase the ones in a case or storage bag, or be forever sorting them out at the start of every lesson!

Beat-keepers

To ensure your class stays in time, you want a dominant sound on which to keep the beat. A cajon or djembe is ideal to cut through the cacophony!

TOP TIP: If you really want to keep in time, give these instruments to a ‘sensible’ child!

Timbre & Texture

Add layers and colours with a variety of instruments made from different materials, which can be played in different ways.

TOP TIP: Aim to include instruments that can make long sounds, such as ocean drums and rainsticks. Often classroom percussion instruments only make short sounds, which limits your creative possibilities.

Harmony

Include some instruments that can add lower harmonies and softer tones, such as metallophones and xylophones.

Top Tip: Look for a mixture of alto and bass options, to give a good harmonic range.

Don’t forget the beaters!

These badboys are ninjas when it comes to getting lost! Be sure to order lots of spares so you are never caught out!

You can find specifications and pricing suggestions for all these instruments along with some more of Liz's suggestions on the Music Education Solutions & UCan Play partnership page:

https://shop.ucanplay.org.uk/collections/musicedsolution