Can you keep a steady beat?
Can you keep a steady beat?

Have your students make a circle a safe distance apart.

Each student will in turn say one beat of the words, "Can you keep a steady beat?"
The 8th student will tap shoulders indicating a rest.

student 1: Can
student 2: you
student 3: keep
student 4: a
student 5: stea -
student 6: dy
student 7: beat
student 8: tap shoulders

All stand and start the pattern.
If any students misses saying the word on their beat, they go out and sit down.
Continue until there is one left.

Challenge 1: replace a word with body percussion. For example, stamp on the word "keep" instead of saying it.

Go faster.
Change direction.

1. Have the students read the rhythms.
2. Read the words in rhythm.
3. Divide the class into 2 groups - one reads the rules, the other does the ostinato
4. Give the students a suggested body percussion to go with the first line.
For example: stomp stomp stomp stomp
pat pat pat pat pat pat pat
5. Read the second line and have students each create a body percussion pattern for it. Keep a beat on a woodblock or a drum and have them do the line four times, working out a body percussion. Divide the class in half and have one have perform and the other half of the class watch. The watchers should choose several performances that they like. As a class choose one body percussion pattern to use for the second line. Switch roles for the third and fourth lines.
6. Choose instruments to play the ostinato.
7. Decide on a form for performance
For example:
- drum and say the ostinato 2x as an intro
- ostinato continues while chant is performed 2x
- end with the ostinato 2x dim.

Have students try reading the note names for one line of this song.

Sevens is a fun clap game. Watch the video and practice with Denise.

The song Mango Walk can be used as a reading song or a rote song. Choose whether to introduce the song by reading or by rote.

Add an ostinato to the song "Mango Walk" as shown in the demo video.

Choose instruments and play the ostinato given (ta ti-ti ta ta) or have the students create their own.
If students create new ostinatos, write them on the board, and play each ostinato for a section of the song.
For example:
1. ti-ti ti-ti ta ta
2. ta ta ti-ti ta
3. ta sh ta ta
4. ti-ti ti-ti ti-ti ta

This is a challenging arrangement by Judy Sills, and may take several classes.

Choose your level. We suggest starting with level 2.
Compose your own rhythm pattern.
Play it back. Do you like it?
If not, change it.

Write your rhythm that you composed on a piece of paper.

Decide how to play it.
You could use body percussion: clap, pat, snap, stamp.
-or-
You could clap 1st time, pat 2nd time, snap 3rd time, stamp 4th time, continuing until the music ends.
-or-
Find things at home to use for drumsticks and drum it.

Choose the level and play the game.