I went to Caracas
to buy some maracas
but they were having siesta.
So I went to Peru,
to a man I knew,
and there I bought a celesta.

After that, on to Rome,
guess what I brought home?
A vibraphone and a bongo!
Then I searched high and low
for a djembe and so
I found one down in the Congo.

I sought a fresh timbre
and bought a marimba —
which has resonating pipes.
Now, have a discussion
all about percussion …
and the many different types!

Teacher’s note: Use this poem to expand students’ knowledge of percussion instruments such as timpani, xylophone, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, gongs, cowbells, chimes, bongo drums, celesta and piano, which is both a percussive and stringed instrument.  How many other instruments can they identify?

Image from Pixabay