Shakin' It Up!: Book & CD

Albrecht and Althouse have created a practical tool that transforms rhythm instrument instruction from simple shaking and tapping into genuine musical thinking. Each of the 10 songs targets a specific instrument's characteristic patterns, giving students a clear rhythmic identity to master rather than treating all percussion as interchangeable. The built-in flexibility to rotate singers and players means every student gets ownership of both melody and rhythm work in a single class period.

The music here is upbeat and purposeful, with titles that announce their mission. There's a playfulness in the song writing ("Hit Those Sticks," "Rum ba da Dum Bum Bum") that appeals to elementary learners while the rhythmic patterns stay clear and achievable. Students feel capable immediately, which builds confidence for more complex percussion work ahead.

This collection works for general music teachers, classroom teachers with music responsibility, and anyone teaching rhythmic literacy to students in grades 2-6. The paired book and accompaniment CD set gives you everything needed to introduce rhythm instruments systematically without requiring students to already play conventionally notated parts.

• Assign instruments in rounds rather than all at once. Start with the featured instrument playing the written rhythm while others sing, then swap roles so singers experience the part before playing it.
• Record a quick performance on your phone once your students nail a song. Playback reinforces what they've achieved and gives them a reference point for tempo and precision.
• Layer instruments gradually during rehearsal. Begin with the melody alone, add the featured instrument's rhythm, then bring in additional percussion only after the foundation is steady.
• Experiment with instrumental combinations beyond the song's title. Once students own the basic rhythm, have them play their assigned part while others handle different instruments to hear how the patterns interlock.

Integrate one song per week into your general music curriculum, treating each as a brief unit on both rhythm reading and instrument technique. The book works equally well as a standalone rhythm building sequence, a supplement to a larger general music scope and sequence, or as a confidence builder early in the school year when establishing ensemble precision matters most.

• Reading and performing rhythm patterns specific to individual percussion instruments
• Distinguishing between melodic and rhythmic roles in ensemble singing
• Trading vocal and instrumental parts within the same song
• Building rhythmic precision and ensemble control through focused, repetitive material
• Understanding how rhythm instruments layer and support a main melody