Body Percussion Intro

Lesson 3

In this third lesson, students will revisit and refine their body percussion performance of Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King, focusing on accuracy, pulse, and ensemble performance. Alongside this, they will begin composing their own original body percussion accompaniment to a song, experimenting with ostinatos, body sounds, dynamics, and structure to develop rhythmic ideas that can be expanded into a performance.

Preparation:

  • Check and watch each of the video links and check they work and you understand each task.

  • Lessons involve movement so ideally a sports hall with the ability to project the videos.

  • Have the workbooks and pens/pencils available for each member of the group.

Activity 4 - Be Creative!

Create a Body Percussion Groove - 10–15 mins

Students will begin creating their own original body percussion performance inspired by Body Avlaia Group and Barbatuques. Working in small groups, they will explore how repeated rhythmic patterns (ostinatos) can be used to create an engaging body percussion accompaniment to a well-known piece of music.

  • In small groups, spend a few minutes experimenting with different body percussion sounds such as claps, stamps, thigh pats, chest taps, finger clicks, and vocal sounds. Which combinations sound most effective together?

  • Choose a piece of music with a clear groove or ostinato that could be recreated using body percussion. Some possible examples include:

    • We Will Rock You (Queen)

    • Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes)

    • Boléro (Ravel)

    • Shake It Off (Taylor Swift)

    • Mission Impossible Theme (Lalo Schifrin)

  • Listen carefully and identify the structure of the music. How many sections does it have? Does the ostinato stay the same throughout or does it change?

  • Work out the main rhythmic pattern and decide how it can be performed using body percussion sounds.

  • Record your ideas using words, symbols, graphic notation, or rhythmic notation in Section 5 of your workbook.

  • Rehearse your pattern repeatedly, refining your timing, sounds, and ensemble coordination.

Points to Consider

  • Can everyone perform their part confidently and in time?

  • Does your ostinato clearly capture the feel of the original piece?

  • Could you add layers by having different performers play different patterns?

  • How might you make the performance more interesting through changes in dynamics, tempo, movement, or texture?

  • Can you create a clear beginning and ending for your performance?

Extension Challenge

Once your basic pattern is secure, try adding a second contrasting section or a call-and-response element inspired by Barbatuques before returning to your original ostinato.

Activity 1 - Warm Up

Body Percussion for Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King – 5 mins

As a warm up we will revise In the Hall of the Mountain King in preparation for a performance in lesson 5.

  • Briefly look at the notation and practice the pattern once through without the music.

  • You can then choose to play either the Rob’s Kitchen play along version starting at 6:07, or if the group are feeling ambitious try playing along with just the music in the second video.