Body Percussion Intro

Lesson 4

In this fourth lesson, students will continue to develop and refine their original body percussion compositions, building on the rhythmic ideas, ostinatos, and structures explored in previous lessons. They will also revisit their performance of Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King, focusing on confidence, accuracy, and ensemble coordination. Throughout the lesson, students will rehearse, evaluate, and improve both performances in preparation for the final sharing and performance lesson.

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.

  • Make sure the students have a way of researching and listening to music such as YouTube to support compositions.

Activity 3 - Composition continued

Refining Your Body Percussion Performance - 20 mins

In this lesson, groups will continue developing their original body percussion performances inspired by Body Avlaia Group and Barbatuques. The focus is now on refining your ideas, improving accuracy, and rehearsing as an ensemble so that your performance is clear, confident, and engaging.

  • Revisit the ostinato and rhythmic ideas you created in the previous lesson. Workbook section 5.

  • Practise one small section at a time rather than attempting the whole performance straight away.

  • Start by mastering a single beat or short rhythmic phrase before connecting it to the next section.

  • Once each section is secure, gradually build the performance into a longer sequence.

  • Make sure everyone can feel and maintain the pulse before concentrating on more complex rhythms.

  • Rehearse slowly at first, then increase the tempo once the group is performing accurately.

  • Amend workbook Sections 5 if you need to refine your ideas.

  • Continue to record any changes to your rhythms, structure, or performance plan.

Rehearsal Tips

  • Listen to each other and aim to move and perform as one ensemble.

  • Keep the pulse steady throughout, even if someone makes a mistake.

  • Focus on making your body percussion sounds clear and consistent.

  • Watch for visual cues from group members if needed.

  • Repeat difficult sections several times before moving on.

  • Make sure transitions between sections are smooth and rehearsed.

  • Agree on a clear starting position and ending pose.

Points to Consider

  • Is everyone confident performing their part from memory?

  • Are all performers staying together and feeling the same pulse?

  • Does your ostinato clearly capture the groove or character of the original piece?

  • Have you used a variety of body percussion sounds effectively?

  • Could you make the performance more engaging through movement, formations, dynamics, or layering?

  • Does your performance have a clear structure with a strong beginning, middle, and ending?

  • Would an audience immediately recognise which piece inspired your performance?

Extension Challenge

Once your performance is secure, experiment with adding a contrasting section, a call-and-response passage, a dynamic build-up, or additional rhythmic layers before returning to your main ostinato. This can help create a more polished and memorable final performance.

Activity 2 - Recap

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

A recap of 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.

Activity 1 - Warm up

Hand clapping pattern – 5 mins

Try out this clapping pattern shared by some young people from the Youth Orchestra of Lós Angeles. The pattern starts simple but then each time it repeats students have to remember to do each action an extra time and also see how fast they can do it.

  • Watch the video once before joining in.

  • Watch a second time and join in.

  • Try without the video.