Attention: Anyone Teaching Primary or Elementary Music Classes
The Bucket Drumming Program That Music Teachers Actually Enjoy Teaching — Now Including Everything You Need For Teaching Grades 5 & 6 General Music.
Click the sound icon below 
to unmute and make sure your sound is turned on!
For anyone who is frustrated teaching bucket drumming, or looking for new, and exciting methods!
How music teachers just like you are successfully teaching bucket drumming. It doesn’t even matter if they haven’t had any experience with a bucket drumming program before!
From: Kevin Tuck
Adelaide, Australia
“Did you need some help controlling the students?”
The kind deputy principal asked me.
That was pretty humiliating. I was a young teacher, and I was a guest presenter at a school. This was not a good question to be asked by the supervising teacher!
I’d been asked to give a special workshop for some students on bucket drumming. I’d been working as a performer, playing percussion for a few years. I thought “how hard could it be?”
However, I was not prepared for the reality of 40 students with drum sticks in their hands! I went home frustrated, tired, and with a sore throat from raising my voice over the sound of student’s bucket drumming.
I had planned many complicated activities and music for the students. After this day I realised the problem wasn’t in WHAT I’d prepared. It was that I had no system for HOW I was going to present it.
So when I was asked to run another workshop, I decided to take a different approach. I decided to be incredibly strict! I was not going to take any prisoners – and I would make them behave like a well-oiled machine!
This time it worked a little better, but students still misbehaved! At the end of this day, all I had was a worse sore throat! This was because I was yelling even louder to try and be heard over the students playing their bucket drums.
Then I worked it out. I discovered that it wasn’t how strict or how casual I was that would make a difference. It wasn’t what the bucket drumming program was – how much they liked or didn’t like it. None of those things mattered!
What made the difference was a SYSTEM. A system that would allow me to speak and, communicate the teaching to the students. A system that would keep them moving and interested in what we were doing.
Kevin Tuck
Percussionist and workshop presenter, plus manager of the Fun Music Company.
I discovered that I needed certain tactics in my teaching for when and how they would pick up drum sticks. That way I could communicate with students without having to speak over someone bucket drumming.
I discovered that if the students are moving around the room and doing different things, they don’t get bored and play at the wrong times!
I realised that it wasn’t my fault. In all my years at university and teacher training, nothing had prepared me for this situation.
No-one prepared me for the reality of standing in front of a group of 40 students with drum sticks in their hands!
Of course, I’d seen people claiming it was easy, but in truth it isn’t. People tried to tell me that standard behaviour management tactics will work just as well with this. Well, lets just say that some ideas worked, and many didn’t!
That’s when I decided to make a change.
Once I realised and adopted the system I needed, then I was able to break free! I broke free from the condescending looks from other teachers! I got the respect of the students and had great success in my programs.
But it’s not just me! Since we started sharing this system with others, we’ve had many teachers write back to us. They’ve told us how much they have enjoyed working with bucket drumming in their classrooms.
I hadn’t realised this when I started. Teaching bucket drumming with the students teaches them important musical concepts. It also gives an amazing experience and wonderful memories for the students involved.
So that is why we have refined and expanded on the materials I pioneered to create:
The bucket drumming program in the Fun Music Company Curriculum is a result of my 20+ years working as a workshop presenter in schools. Then, I worked together with experienced classroom educators to create activities that work, each and every time.
Because I’ve been through the challenges, the ups and downs and made all the mistakes, you don’t have to!
After going through the included bucket drumming training you’ll feel ready to go, and have a system to implement on day one.
The classroom management system, which took me years to develop, you can learn by reading a simple PDF document!
Unique bucket drumming animations, so you can show the students what to play in a familiar game-like style.
We revised, tested and refined this animation style until it was perfect! Children watch the balls fall down onto the buckets, and they keep in time. Because the animation on the screen takes care of the timing, you can focus on other aspects of their playing.
Real music notation and elements of music are used, so you can cover important parts of your music curriculum.
We use bucket drumming to cover important elements of music such as beat, rhythm, dynamics and expression. We expose students to real music notation, which helps students transition from using animations to sheet music.
Detailed instructional videos, so you can easily communicate the essential information on how to play the buckets.
We took the key technical elements that have to be communicated to students and put them all on video. This means you don’t have to remember them! Of course teachers can do all the direct instruction themselves. However, if running short of time they can just press play on the video!
Actual feedback from bucket drumming program user, Leonie:
“Thank you for your excellent work and engaging programs – you made my teaching so much easier!”
Content structured to prepare for 8 bucket drumming pieces
This program is set up to prepare 8 fun and engaging bucket drumming ensemble pieces.
Each piece has a clear outcome and learning goals. Teachers have the flexibility to add more revision, or skip over material if the class is moving quickly.
Each lesson could be completed in a standard school lesson time frame. However, each piece should take several sessions to master.
Key Elements of the Fun Music Company Bucket Drumming Program
The Fun Music Company Bucket Drumming Animation System
The Bucket Drumming Animations have been carefully designed to make bucket drumming easy and fun.
While they do make it easy, the animations also provide accurate music notation. This means that students are familiar and learn to read sheet music.
Bucket Drumming Performance Pieces
Eight Performance pieces form the structure of the bucket drumming system.
This is because we believe that the experience of preparing a piece for performance is critical for students. They learn each section, and memorise the structure and form of the piece. This assists their musicianship and learning.
Performance piece example
Please note: Reading sheet music is not a prerequisite! We do provide all the sheet music for these pieces, but teachers do not need to use them. The students can just follow the animation, as in the example below.
Bucket Drumming Instructional Videos
This Bucket drumming program doesn’t intend to replace the teacher in the classroom. The teacher has to drive the lessons and keep the students moving through the program.
However, it isn’t a problem if the teacher doesn’t feel confident with the technical areas of bucket drumming. This program has video instruction to help!
These videos are often very short, containing just what is needed. They have nothing that serves to distract from the core learning of the lesson.
Instructional Video Example
The Bucket Drumming Classroom Management System
Good classroom management is essential when you are dealing with a class of children with sticks in their hands!
It doesn’t matter if this is your first year teaching, or you’ve been teaching for many years. It is still going to be challenge!
So that is why we’ve put together this 8 page document. In a quick 10 minute-read you’ll get an overview and some ideas for how to manage bucket drumming in your classroom.
Bucket Drumming: Solved.
Now Let’s Talk About The Rest of Your Program …
Bucket Drumming Is Your Way In With The Students — however Here is The Complete Grade 5 & 6 Program That Comes With It!
In the Fun Music Company Curriculum program for Grades 5 and 6, Bucket Drumming forms part of the SING & PLAY section of the curriculum.
Every music curriculum in the world contains the same content:
- Singing and playing
- Basic skill development
- Composing
- Listening
These are grouped into the four UNITS of the Fun Music Company Curriculum program:
How Do You Build On The Success Of Bucket Drumming With Tuned Instruments?
This program includes a complete MARIMBA BAND Program
introducing tuned instruments in a way that students will LOVE!
Marimba Band
How Do You Create A Real Ensemble Experience With Upper Primary or Elementary Students?
The secret isn’t complicated: give it an exciting name, use accessible music that works, and make performance achievable from day one.
That’s exactly what the MARIMBA BAND program delivers. Built around straightforward pieces using just one or two notes, this program works with the basic marimbas or xylophones most schools already own. Like everything in the curriculum, complete instructional tutorials show you exactly how to teach and play each piece.
Here’s how it works: Each instrumental part is taught separately so students can master their role before combining. The pieces use repetitive patterns that students can learn by ear, supported by on-screen animations that guide them to the correct notes. Every piece follows familiar musical structures, making learning intuitive rather than intimidating.
The program includes three distinct parts—Bass, Harmony, and Melody—each designed to fit within a single octave. This smart design means multiple students can share instruments. Got a three-octave marimba? Three students can play it simultaneously.
Complete video tutorials guide students through learning each part. Music specialist teachers can teach directly if they prefer, but the videos provide essential backup for generalist teachers or when you’re short on time.
The repertoire spans multiple musical styles and progresses logically from simple two-note pieces to more sophisticated arrangements requiring greater focus and practice time.
Click to see a sample ensemble score:
Actual feedback from curriculum user, Abraham:
“Your Curriculum is all I need to teach the skills that I need to teach in the classroom: Critical listening, singing, reading music notation and instrumental playing. Music appreciation, too!”
What About Teaching The Technical Basics They Actually Need?
Quick 5-Minute Warmup Activities That Systematically Build Singing, Playing, Listening, And Theory Skills.
The SKILLS component takes care of the technical foundation your students need—without you having to become an expert in every area. Structured activities progressively build singing ability, instrumental technique, and listening skills. Music theory and notation are woven in naturally, so students actually understand what they’re learning.
Click to see sample:
Echo Rhythm and Echo Singing
These echo activities make skill-building effortless. Students hear a rhythm or melody, then echo it back—starting simple, gradually building complexity. You can demonstrate the patterns yourself if you’d like, or let the professionally recorded tracks handle the modeling while you focus on listening and giving feedback.
Dynamics Control
Volume control is where many upper primary students struggle—they know the notes, but everything comes out at one level. These dynamic exercises systematically train students to play soft, loud, and everything in between across all activities: clapping, instruments, and singing. No guesswork needed; the progression is built in.
Click to see sample:
Click to see sample explainer video:
Click to see sample worksheet:
Music theory worksheets with explainer videos
The theory component teaches essential music notation without overwhelming students or teachers. These worksheets are laser-focused on reinforcing what students actually need for the program—no filler, no irrelevant busywork that gets filed away and forgotten. Each worksheet connects directly to the music students are playing, singing, and listening to in class. They’ll learn to read rhythmic notation, understand pitch on the staff, recognize musical symbols, and grasp the concepts that make everything else make sense. It’s theory with a purpose, not theory for theory’s sake.
Short explainer videos walk you through the technical information before each lesson, making theory instruction straightforward even if music isn’t your specialty. These videos cover exactly what you need to know to introduce the concept confidently—nothing more, nothing less. You’re not expected to already be an expert in music theory. The videos give you the background, the worksheets give students the practice, and together they create genuine understanding. Teaching theory doesn’t require a music degree when you have the right support system in place.
Actual feedback from curriculum user, Michelle:
“The Fun Music Co is the GOLD STANDARD in music education! I look forward to teaching with these programs and can’t wait to see what you create next!”
The COMPOSE section transforms students from music consumers into music creators. Through extended 5-10 week composition projects, students explore the elements of music by actually making their own pieces—not just learning about composition in theory. Some projects use technology, letting students create on their individual devices with digital tools. Others use traditional classroom instruments for hands-on, acoustic composition. This variety ensures every student finds their creative entry point, regardless of their access to technology or their learning style.
Each project is structured to build genuine pride and ownership. Students aren’t completing worksheets about composition—they’re composing real music they’ll want to share with friends and family. The extended time frame means they can develop ideas, revise, refine, and create something substantial. By the end of each project, students won’t just understand musical elements intellectually; they’ll know them intimately because they’ve wrestled with them, made decisions about them, and used them to express their own musical ideas.
Click through some of the activities in this section:
CONNECT builds the listening skills that make everything else click. Students explore diverse music—from Star Wars to Middle Eastern and Japanese pop—learning to identify how musical elements create meaning and serve specific purposes. They’ll recognize how rhythm drives energy, how melody carries emotion, and how dynamics shape drama. These aren’t abstract concepts; students hear them in action across multiple cultures and genres, building a sophisticated musical vocabulary they can apply when performing, composing, or simply enjoying music.
Click through some of the activities in this section:
Frequently Asked Questions
There are only two pieces of equipment needed for each student.
- Bucket
- Pair of sticks
Buckets
Please see the bonus item provided below for guidance on the best type of buckets to get. Generally these can be sourced from local hardware stores at a relatively small price. They can sometimes be sourced from people in industrial businesses free of charge. Search on google or ask around parent and friend groups and you can be amazed at what may be donated!
Sticks
Ideally real drum sticks are best. Ask your local music store for a bulk price on the cheapest sticks they have, and these will be just fine.
If this is too expensive, then it is possible to use plain wood dowels. Buy 10-12mm dowel rod from the local hardware store, and cut them to length. If doing this, consider winding the sticks with electrical tape. This will make the sticks last longer, and avoid the chance of splinters.
Absolutely not! Anyone can teach this program, no matter your drumming experience. We have included instructional videos which cover all technical issues.
You don’t even need to read music, as you can just follow the animations. Students just play the bucket when the ball hits the bucket on screen,
True, it can be loud when you’ve got 30 students with sticks in their hands.
We have provided some suggestions for dampening and making the buckets quieter in our bucket guide bonus. This guide is provided free with this program.
The key to not having a headache at the end of a bucket drumming session is effective classroom management. Review the bucket drumming classroom management system article included in this program.
If you follow all the suggestions in that document, the bucket drumming shouldn’t be too loud. The buckets are not too loud if the only time they are played is when the students are playing all together.
This is part of the SING & PLAY component of Grade 5 and grade 6 of the Fun Music Company curriculum program.
The first four pieces are part of the Grade 5 program, and the second four are part of the grade 6 program. You can do it independently if you wish or as part of the Grade 5 and 6 program.
Full members of the Fun Music Company curriculum do not need to buy this program separately. It is provided in their membership.
This program was designed for upper primary or elementary students: grade 5 and grade 6.
However, this program could work for grade 3 or 4s, or even for middle school or high school students without a problem.
All you need is a screen of some kind – a large TV screen or projector will work just fine.
Here’s Everything You Get With This Complete Grade 5 & 6 Program:
The Bucket Drumming Program (What You Came For):
- 8 complete bucket drumming performance pieces with animations
- Step-by-step lesson plans for each piece
- Instructional videos covering all technical elements
- “Classroom Management for Bucket Drumming” PDF guide
- Bucket selection guide
PLUS: Your Complete Grade 5 & 6 General Music Curriculum:
SING & PLAY:
• Complete Bucket Drumming unit (detailed above)
• Marimba Band ensemble program with performance pieces and arrangements
SKILLS:
• Echo rhythm and singing activities (with professional audio tracks)
• Dynamic control exercises
• Music theory worksheets with explainer videos for non-specialists
COMPOSE:
• Extended 5-10 week composition projects
• Technology-based projects for individual devices
• Traditional instrument composition projects
CONNECT:
• Guided listening activities spanning classical, jazz, modern, and world music
• Analytical frameworks for understanding musical purpose and meaning
Your Complete Grade 5 & 6 Music Program …
Ready To Use This Week.
No more scrambling for bucket drumming resources. No more wondering what to teach next. You’ll have everything planned, prepared, and ready to go—bucket drumming, marimba band, skills, composition projects, and listening activities. The full year, covered.
Choose the membership option that works best for you on this page. As soon as your payment processes, you’ll get instant access to the entire Grade 5 & 6 program. You can start reviewing materials today and be teaching bucket drumming as soon as tomorrow morning.
Your Risk-Free Guarantee:
Whether you choose annual or monthly access, you’re completely protected.
Annual Membership: Try the complete program for 30 days. Use it with your students, test the lesson plans in your real classroom. If you’re not completely satisfied within the first 30 days, contact us for a full refund and we’ll stop your membership.
Monthly Membership: Cancel anytime, no questions asked. We’ll stop future charges immediately and you’ll keep access through the end of your current month. While we don’t refund months you’ve already used (just like a gym membership—once the month starts, it’s yours), you have complete control to stop whenever you choose.
Here’s the reality: You can keep piecing together lessons from YouTube and Pinterest, spending your evenings hunting for materials when you should be relaxing. Or you can join the hundreds of music teachers already using this complete system—with zero risk.
When you join today, you’re getting the complete bucket drumming program, the marimba band unit, all the skills activities, composition projects, and listening library. Everything you need for Grade 5 & 6 music, ready to go. Choose your membership option by clicking the button below and we’ll see you in the members’ area.
Actual feedback from curriculum user:
“Having access to the Fun Music Company online lessons over the last couple of years has made the teaching and planning of my music lessons SO much easier.”