Now, some instruments. This may take a few posts. I have a big red suitcase filled with instruments which I use in my everyday sessions. Some of my favorites are shakers. I have all kinds of shakers in my “kit”. Here are a few of the ones I use the most.

Shakin’ Eggs: These little gems are perfect. They are kid size. They come in all kinds of colors and are affordable. When working with kids with special needs I like that they form perfectly to help develop their grasp patterns. I use them to work on passing, putting them in and out of other things (like tambourines), banging them together at midline, handing them back and forth, rolling them to others to take turns, working on starting and stopping, matching colors, making choices, the possibilities are virtually endless of the skills we can teach with these little beauties.

Chick-Itas: These mini maracas are outstanding. They have good sound and fit nicely in little hands. They’re great for children who tend to keep their hands fisted and allow for small hands to play handled instruments. They can also be used as mallets for children who need the added stimuli of weight and sound while playing.

Shaking Blocks: Since I work with very young children, I also work on developmental milestones through music. These stacking blocks make learning to stack more fun. We sing and shake them before banging them on top of each other and sending them crashing to the floor in a rush of sound.

Conga Shakers: These mini conga shaped shakers are a little heavier than egg shakers, but are great for small hands. Their shape leads to nice thumb position and helps those who have a little more trouble using their hands.

Other miscellaneous shakers: I’ve found all kinds of shaking treasures in my adventures in music therapy. Animal shakers are fun although the words giraffe, elephant, and rhinoceros can be challenging for young children to say. Tornado shakers are a relatively new find for me. This ball filled with steel pellets allows children to not only hear the sound but see it as well. The little cyclone inside is an added bonus! My most recent discovery is a shaker from Latin Percussion which changes pitch when it is squeezed. It can be a challenge for small hands, but an awesome way to explore sounds and develop hand strength.

Shakers are an inexpensive and fun way to make music. With plastic eggs in every store during this time of year, we can make our own eggs and experiment with different peas, beans, rice, or other safe items to make different sounds. They meet so many needs in their tidy little packages.