@The Arts Unit Creative Classes

Make it and play it!

Learn about, make and use percussion instruments

Student music resource developed by The Arts Unit

Years 3 to 6 Music

What will I learn?

You will:

  • learn about the percussion family and percussion instruments

  • watch and listen to a variety of percussion instruments being played

  • create your own percussion instrument

  • compose and perform with your instrument.


There are 3 parts to this class. These can be done in order or as standalone classes.

Part 1 – The world of percussion

Welcome to the wonderful world of percussion!

Learn about different percussion instruments, where they come from and how they are used.

Percussionist playing the timpani.

Part 2 – Discovering instruments

So many instruments and so many sounds!

In this lesson, you will learn about a variety of different percussion instruments.

A collection of percussion instruments.

Part 3 – Make it and play it

Note: this lesson requires you to collect recycled materials to make an instrument.

STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) challenge!

In this lesson, you will make your own percussion instrument out of recycled materials.

You will then make sounds and compose with your instrument.

Students from EA Southee Public School, playing the percussion instrument they created.

You might like to explore more of our @The Arts Unit Creative Classes:






ME3PO - Creative arts with aliens - Years 3-6 drama, music and visual arts
The abstract world of Kandinsky - Years 3 to 6 music and visual arts
Electronic sounds - Year 5-8 music
Spectacular choralography - K-6 music
It all 'ads' up - Years 5-8 music
Body beats - Year 3 to 6 music

Third-party content attributions

  • Students playing instrument, photograph supplied by EA Southee Public School