Rhythm sticks have to be one of the most versatile and accessible instruments for the elementary music classroom. If you are starting a new classroom from scratch and prioritizing what to purchase first, some type of rhythm sticks would definitely be at the top of my list! If you're looking for some fresh ways to use rhythm sticks in your classroom, or strategies for using them more effectively, this post is for you.
1. Types
I was actually very confused for a long time about all the different types of rhythm sticks and other similar instruments that I found in my first few classrooms where I taught. There are some rhythm sticks that are ridged, like these, and there are the shorter fatter lummi sticks like these, and then there are claves like these. Then of course even with the basic standard rhythm sticks there are different materials and lengths! Claves are their own separate instrument and should be treated that way- I teach students how to play them completely differently and only use them with older students for that reason. Ridged sticks can be a nice addition to have students practice longer notes on a familiar instruments, like when my 2nd graders first learn half notes, but honestly they are so quiet when scraped that often students can't tell if they're making sound or not- I prefer guiros for that purpose and find the ridged sticks more distracting than helpful. I used to think lummi sticks were great for younger students because they are thicker and easier to hold, but the short ones I have make it more likely that students will hit their own hands when they play them, and the longer ones are too heavy for my younger students, so I actually end up saving them for older students just to have something that has a clearer, slightly louder sound.
Within the category of smooth, thin, standard rhythm sticks, I don't have a strong preference. The plastic ones avoid the common chipping and breaking that happens over time with the wooden ones, but they are heavier and louder, so there are pro's and con's to each material. For my classroom, I've actually been really enjoying these rhythm sticks because they are lightweight, the paint doesn't seem to chip like the previous wooden ones I've had, and they come in the 6 colors I use for everything else in my classroom (read about my color teams here). They also have a surprisingly nice sound! So for me these are my current favorites for standard, everyday use, but that's not to say I think they are the only best choice for every situation.
2. Playing Technique
The biggest thing I have to worry about when teaching rhythm sticks is getting students to understand that they are NOT drum sticks, and should not be used that way- they are meant to be tapped together in an x, not tapped on the floor, on their lap, or on their chairs. I actually got a class set of inexpensive drum sticks so that, with my older students, I could change things up and have them use those for their intended purpose on occasion to help drive home that point.
3. Lesson Ideas
Preschool/ Kindergarten: My favorite thing to do with rhythm sticks in early childhood is a song called "Music, Music, Music". I got this CD from my cooperating teacher decades ago and still use this one track every year! I love using this at the beginning of the school year to reinforce proper playing technique while exploring different ways to use them, practice steady beat, get students singing, and reinforce directional vocabulary. Plus it's a lot of fun!
1st grade: In first grade I mostly use rhythm sticks to practice reading music notation. They're great to use for play-along videos as well because they are loud enough to hear over the music without drowning it out and easy to play accurately.
2nd grade: In second grade students learn about Maori music and they learn tititorea. I always start with our standard rhythm sticks and then switch to thicker and heavier (but still long) lummi sticks once they get the hang of it (so there's less chance of them slamming their own or their partner's fingers). Here's a full explanation of my unit on Maori music if you want to learn more.
3rd grade: I don't do it often because they get frustrated by them pretty quickly, but I do use the ridged rhythm sticks to introduce and practice reading half and whole notes in 3rd grade. I show them how to tap for quarter and eighth notes, and scrape slooooooowly for half and whole notes (so the entire note is done in one scrape). Although it is hard to hear the long notes this way it is a good way for them to kinesthetically experience the long notes so if you have the ridged kind this is a good time to use them this way.
4th grade: I teach sixteenth notes in 4th grade so rhythm sticks become a go-to instrument for practicing reading notation at this age- the other small hand percussion instruments are much more difficult to play at that speed accurately. I show students how to hold one stick still and hold the other one with their thumb and pointer finger to create a fulcrum so they can get a faster stroke, which they love practicing.
5th-6th grade: With 5th and 6th grade I definitely still pull out the rhythm sticks for practicing reading rhythm notation if we are doing sixteenth notes, but I also use them for passing games. I usually practice first with beanbags since they are soft, and then use rhythm sticks to add a level of challenge (and also make it more similar to how passing games were usually originally played in cultures around the world with sticks and stones). Al Citron and Bombela are just a couple of the ones I do with this age. This is also actually when I pull out the short lummi sticks I have because for passing, the shorter ones work well.
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