Top Eight Reasons to Start a Bucket Drumming Program
You might have seen bucket ensembles performing on YouTube or at local musical festivals. Maybe you’ve wondered if this unique musical experience is something you could offer your students. Read on to discover the eight top reasons why you should start a bucket drumming program.
Accessible
Bucket Drumming is an accessible, inclusive program. Students with a variety of musical skill sets (from beginner to advanced) can enjoy bucket music programs together. Students with a musical background or simply an aptitude for music can take on the most challenging parts, while students who have never played a musical instrument can easily take on important roles with great results. Bucket Drumming can also be modified to suit a variety of student abilities.
Incredible Sound
Bucket drums can produce rich, musical sounds. With just one bucket and a pair of drumsticks, each student can create four distinct sounds. As a group, students play rhythms in unison and in multilayered patterns while applying expressive techniques to deliver a performance with artistry. Teachers and students will see excellent results in a relatively short period of time. While it can take traditional school bands years of practice to achieve a tight, musical sound, a Bucket Music ensemble can deliver ovation-worthy performances after just months of practice. Students are capable of learning complex rhythms that they naturally and quickly memorize. Audiences are always impressed and inspired by the music that students create with bucket drums.
Inexpensive
The cost of this program suits the tight budgets of many schools. The entire bucket drumming program requires only buckets, drumsticks, and a method book. The Bucket Music book outlines exactly what is needed (types of drumsticks and sizes of inexpensive buckets) to set up an ensemble. While some schools have these low costs covered by school budgets, others have received grants and donations to get their programs started. No rental program headaches here! And you’ll spend no time worrying about the cost of instrument repairs, damages, and losses with this program. Your entire setup is cheap, durable, and quick to set up and maintain.
Cool Factor
Do you want to be the coolest teacher on staff? Teach bucket drumming. Kids are drawn to the alternative orchestra comprised of buckets. It’s surprising to hear how rich and complex the sounds from buckets can be. We usually think of buckets as vessels to hold garbage, paint, or mop water. But the specific sizes of buckets, and the surfaces of each one (side, rim, top), create a surprising variety of sounds. The bucket ensemble, as a group, sounds like a drum set magnified. Meanwhile, each student feels like a rock star seated at their own personal drumkit. The ensemble produces loud driving beats, soft delicate sounds, and an array of sounds in between.
Connection
Bucket drumming programs build community. Students learn collaboration skills as they work on a team. They can share their work by performing at assemblies or collaborating with other groups within the school, such as accompanying a scene in a play or playing alongside a band or dance group. Many bucket ensembles have been invited to perform within the community at music festivals, multicultural festivals, or to open a community event, such as a sports game.
Meet Curriculum Guidelines
Bucket drumming can meet several curriculum goals. The Bucket Music program teaches musicianship, such as rhythm reading, rhythm playing, use of dynamics, playing in unison, and playing multilayered patterns. After learning some compositions, students can apply their knowledge and skills to create their own songs. Additionally, bucket drumming is an opportunity for integrated learning. Classes can explore drums and rhythms from a variety of cultures. Practices can link to studies of drummers, percussionists, orchestras, scores, musical styles and movements.
Develop Appreciation for World Rhythms
Bucket Drumming naturally leads to the practice and appreciation of rhythms from a variety of cultures. For example, the compositions found in Bucket Music: Learning to the Beat of a Different Drum are inspired by Japanese taiko drumming, Brazilian samba, Caribbean calypso, West African djembe patterns, Indian tabla rhythms, American marching bands, and Western classical music. Teachers can use some class time to look at drums and rhythms specific to a culture or region of the world. Ensembles can also work collaboratively with other drum groups, such as djembe players.
Mental Health Benefits
Group drumming is known to enhance social and emotional wellbeing. Students find this interactive program engaging and invigorating. They often leave practice feeling uplifted.
A recent study revealed that group drumming reduced anxiety, increased focus and concentration, enhanced self-awareness, and helped participants build relationships.
Since Bucket Music is designed as an achievable program, students feel a sense of accomplishment after each session. They see results at every practice and therefore witness growth within themselves regularly. Self-esteem is boosted while learning new musical skills. The teamwork involved in this program offers a wonderful sense of belonging.
1 Ascenso, S., Atkins, L., Fancourt, D., Perkins, R., and Williamon, A. (2018). “Promoting well-being through group drumming with mental health service and their carers.” Informa UK Limited.
