Playing Maracas: Learn the Rhythms!

Maracas, also called rumba shakers and various other names, are percussion musical instruments—rattles—that originated in Latin America. Players hold them by their handles, usually in pairs, and shake them. Traditional maracas consist of hollow balls made from dried gourd shell (cuia “koo-ya“) or coconut shell filled with seeds or dried beans and mounted on a wooden handle. Modern maraca balls are also made of leather, wood, or plastic. Practice playing the maracas with instruments found at: