Mason Jar Water Drums

             This is a great activity that uses science (physics), music, art and culture.  By using wide mouth mason jars with different levels of water in them you can produce different pitches, higher and lower. The eraser end of pencils can be used as drumsticks or you can make your own out of various materials. 

The sound of these different pitched Mason Drums sound very similar to the Indonesian Gamelan.  The gamelan is a large ensemble of bells and gongs that can be played by many different performers at one time.  The first gamelan set (three pitches of gongs) is believed to have been established in 230 A.D. – its melodies were based on the melodic patterns of classical Javanese poetry which were always sung.  The gamelan helped to rhythmically organize the poetic forms.

 

 

 

Materials Needed:

Directions: 

  1. Fill one jar with an inch of water.

  2. Place lid on the jar.  Place jar on floor, preferably carpet (they sound better on something soft).

  3. Take a pencil and gently strike the center of the lid like you would a drum. Listen!

  4. Ask the children if they think the pitch (sound) will go higher or lower when more water is added to the jar.  Explain pitch by using a low voice and then a high voice.

  5. Fill another jar half full and place the lid on it.

  6. Play it and ask the students if the pitch went higher of lower.

  7. Continue this process with as many jars as you would like, the more varying heights of water the noisier the room will become!!!

  8. Children can then decorate pieces of paper and write: high, low or middle to associate the pitch with the different levels of water.  Tape the pieces of paper to the appropriate jars.

  9. The teacher could now do a simple call and response rhythm with the students and their new “Mason Jar Water Drums.”