Playing Classroom Instruments

Pitched and Unpitched Instruments#

In your music classroom, you will find many different instruments. Some of these instruments can play different musical notes — higher and lower pitches. Others make just one kind of sound when you hit them.

This is the difference between pitched and unpitched instruments!

Pitched Instruments#

Pitched instruments can play different notes — you can play melodies on them. In the classroom, common pitched instruments include:

• Xylophone: Wooden bars arranged from low to high. You hit the bars with a mallet to play different notes. Each bar is a different pitch.
• Glockenspiel: Metal bars arranged from low to high, just like a xylophone but with a brighter, bell-like sound. ("Glocken" is the German word for bells!)
• Metallophone: Also metal bars, but with a fuller, more resonant sound than a glockenspiel.
• Recorder: A simple wind instrument — you blow into one end and cover holes with your fingers to change pitch.
• Piano or keyboard: Has both high and low notes — the highest-pitched classroom instrument!

Unpitched Instruments#

Unpitched instruments make just one kind of sound — you cannot change the pitch, but you CAN play different rhythms.

Common unpitched classroom instruments include:

• Drums and hand drums: Hit with hands or a mallet for a deep, resonant sound.
• Tambourine: Shake or hit for a jingly, rhythmic sound.
• Maracas: Shake these for a rattling, shaking sound.
• Woodblock: Hit with a mallet for a hollow wooden clack.
• Triangle: Strike with a metal beater for a clear, ringing tone.
• Claves: Two wooden sticks clapped together for a crisp knock.

Treating Instruments with Care#

All instruments — even simple classroom instruments — deserve care and respect. Always handle instruments gently. Do not bang them harder than needed. Put them away carefully after playing. When we take care of our instruments, they make better music and last longer!