Charlo Music

Tuned Percussion is great fun – most of the Time! However, it can be a source of headaches (literally!) for music teachers if its not implemented in a careful way.This article is to give you some hints and tricks on how to maintain and look after the instruments, plus the types of music to play which have the greatest chances of success.1)Organization is the keyWith tuned percussion instruments in a music class you have to be totally organized.Each instrument needs a shelf where it lives permanently – so that students know where it goes back after it has been used. You’ve got to establish these places early in the routine and have ordering about how the students go about picking them out and playing them.2) Go All Diatonic or All ChromaticOne of the big problems is that many orff style tuned percussion instruments are sold in two bits – the main “diatonic” part of the instrument, plus they offer a “chromatic extension” which is simply the black notes on a separate box resonator.In my experience these things are far more hassle than they are worth, particularly for elementary school classes. You are much better off with just a diatonic instrument … Read more