My Favorite Music Resources

Basic Beat Resonator Bells or “Xylophone” for our Xylophone Fun Curriculum. These can be played in the case, or the bars can be pulled out and played on the desk or the floor. [Please watch out for cheaper versions of this on Amazon, with yellow, plastic mallets. They do not have good reviews.]

Rhythm Band Resonator Bells or “Xylophone” for our Xylophone Fun Curriculum. These can be played in the case, or the bars can be pulled out and played on the desk or the floor. [Please watch out for cheaper versions of this on Amazon, with yellow, plastic mallets. They do not have good reviews.]

These are also called Resonator Bells but they are more like chime bars. They are more expensive and higher quality. Would be great for an older child or teen who would be interested in the Xylophone Fun Curriculum.

Rhythm Band Hand Bells/Desk Bells. These can be played by tapping the top while sitting on a desk, or may be picked up and played like traditional hand bells. These work with the Xylophone Fun Curriculum.

Hand Bells/Desk Bells. These can be played by tapping the top while sitting on a desk, or may be picked up and played like traditional hand bells. These work with the Xylophone Fun Curriculum. (West Music store; without a case)

Hand Bells/Desk Bells. These can be played by tapping the top while sitting on a desk, or may be picked up and played like traditional hand bells. These work with the Xylophone Fun Curriculum. (West Music store; with a case)

Desk bells sit on the desk and are smaller and easier for little hands. They can not be picked up and played as hand bells though. (West Music; Without a case)

Basic Beat BBR8 8-Note Resonator Bells w/ Case from WestMusic.com. This is the same “Xylophone” as the others above, just on a site other than Amazon.

Boomwhackers can also be used with the Xylophone Fun Curriculum. This offers another way of playing the songs other than the xylophone. They are played by hitting them on a desk or on the floor. Great for a class or small group.

Rhythm Band Hand Bells/Chimes are played like traditional hand bells. These can be used with the Xylophone Fun Curriculum.

Rainsticks offer the soothing sound of rain and are great for small groups for creating nature music, pairing with a rain song, or shaking for a percussive sound.

Rainsticks or Rainmakers also come in bright colors which is appealing for younger kids. I love using these in groups and one-on-one.

Bamboo Rainstick 24″. Soothing rain sound perfect for calming and relaxing. More natural and authentic than the plastic ones. Always supervise young children.

Lollipop drums are a kid favorite! These drums have quality sounds and are easy to hold and play. Kids alway get excited when they see these come out of the bag! Comes in 6″, 8″, and 10″. Go with the 8″ for a good all around size. 10″ gives a deeper sound. 6″ is the smallest and perfect for little hands; makes a higher sound.

A quality tambourine for smaller hands; from Remo.

Remo floor drum with two mallets. Remo drums are the best quality for children. They will hold up to use and the provide excellent sound.

Egg shakers are another kid favorite. Kids can easily play along by shaking to the beat. Play sitting or dancing. Great for simple activities like following the leader (think starting and stopping, shaking high and low, etc).

Remo fruit shakers takes shaking to a whole new level. These realistic looking fruits are perfect for adding a food or market theme to your music or just to have something different. Who doesn’t want to shake a banana or an orange while signing and dancing?

Nino fruit shaker set is another great set with less pieces. Also good quality. These realistic looking fruits are perfect for adding a food or market theme to your music or just to have something different. Who doesn’t want to shake a banana or an orange while signing and dancing?

Wrist jingle bells are a staple in my music bag. Unfortunately the brands I have bought in the past are no longer available on Amazon; the quality companies are getting pushed out by cheaper imitations. Westmusic carries Basic Beat which I trust. The link here goes to a top seller on Amazon that has good ratings so it would be worth trying. You want to make sure the bells do not easily come off as they would then be a choking hazard.

Triangle are easy to play and hold and make a lovely sound. 6″ and 8″ are typical.