Point to the Sound
Students sit with eyes closed, listen for one soft tap on a hand drum, and point toward where it came from; when they open their eyes, they check whether they were right. It trains locating sounds in space, attention, and stillness.
How to play
- Spread students out sitting at least 3 feet apart, legs crossed, eyes closed (30 s).
- Walk silently to a spot and give the hand drum one soft tap; everyone points a straight arm toward the sound and freezes.
- On 'Eyes open,' students check whether their arm points at the drum. Eyes close again and you move. Do 6 to 8 taps (4 min).
- In the last rounds, a student becomes the drummer: they tiptoe to a spot and tap while the others listen (1.5 min).
- Finish with one very soft, distant tap; anyone who hears it lowers their arm, lies down, and breathes slowly (1 min).
Rules
- Eyes open only on 'Eyes open.'
- Point silently without leaving your spot.
- Only one soft tap per round.
- Safety: the drummer walks slowly and never taps next to someone's ear.
Variations
Easier
Give two taps in a row from the same spot.
Standard
One soft tap from a different spot each time.
Harder
Two drummers tap at once, and students point one arm at each.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student plays from their wheelchair and points with a hand or by turning their head.
- Hearing impairment: the drummer moves closer and adds a soft tap on the floor so the student can feel the vibration.
- Autism or sound sensitivity: let the student know the sound will be soft and offer them the drummer role from the start.
Learning goals
- Locate where a sound is coming from.
- Stay still with eyes closed.
- Relax the body after the effort of the lesson.
Equipment for a class of 25
- hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
The softer the tap, the quieter the room gets: start clear and lower the volume each round. Change the drum's height too (kneeling, standing) to keep it interesting.
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