Black Spiders Lesson #14

Teacher's Corner:
Next week is instrument day! Come at the normal class time.  Plan on staying about 45 min, instead of 30.  Also, each student should bring an instrument to perform for the class. They can sing with their tambourine, hit some sticks together, or bring a baby rattle! (Just a few ideas). We will have some guest musicians, eat snacks, and do some of our favorite activities from the semester!

Learn & Grow:
The timpani is an important, if lesser known, part of the orchestra. It’s possible you’ve never seen them because the percussion section sits behind other instruments--that's too bad, because they are a fascinating part of the drum family! The timpani is actually a pitched percussion instrument, so if you adjust the tightness of the head, you can control the note the drum will play, which means these drums need to be tuned just as many other instruments do. A timpanist will generally perform with four or five drums tuned to different pitches placed together.
Fun fact: Professional timpanists make their own sticks so they can produce the exact quality of sound they desire!
Optional home fun activity: Do the Instrument Day activity on page 18 in your workbook
(Remember, these activities are optional but can be a great bonding experience to do with your child during the week.)