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1, 2, 3

by | Nov 29, 2022

27

Category

rhythmic

Age

8+

Number of participants

4+

Duration

approx. 10 min.

Working method
  • played in pairs
  • group work
Musical abilities of the trainers

1  2  3  4  5  6

Competences
  • concentration
  • collaboration
  • attention
  • cooperation
  • creativity
  • sence of rhythm

1, 2, 3

1,2,3 is a simple rhythm game, played in pairs.
It can be developed to play in larger groups.

AIM

The aim is to improve the rhythm skills and concentration of participants while also ice breaking & team building.

Description

Choose a partner & stand facing each other
Group leader demos Round 1 – and sets the Rhythm & pace for everyone to follow.

Round 1
Pairs count to 3 repetitively, alternating numbers
a) 1, b) 2, a) 3, b) 1, a) 2, b) 3, a) 1 etc

Round 2
Replace number 1 with a clap.
Again, group leaders set the rhythm and pace.

Round 3
Replace Number 3 with a nod of the head

Round 4
Replace number 2 with a foot stomp

You can continue to replace numbers with different body hits, vocal sounds or movements.

 

Level up!

You can count to 5 instead
You can join 2 pairs together and go round in a circle (square!) with the same exercise.
Participants can run the exercise again and choose their own sounds, body hits, movements etc.

comments for facilitators

Start with slow rhythm and speed up gradually.
Each round, get participants to focus on the rhythm – especially after they have mastered the pattern.

Printable version

Pass the Rhythm

by | Nov 29, 2022

28

Category

rhythmic

Age

8+

Number of participants

8-30

Duration

approx. 10 min.

Working method

group work

Musical abilities of the trainers

1  2  3  4  5  6

Competences
  • concentration
  • collaboration
  • attention
  • cooperation
  • sence of rhythm

Pass the Rhythm

Team building exercise improving rhythm skills
and concentration.

AIM

The aim is to improve the rhythm skills and concentration of participants.
The game can be adapted for different levels.
The exercise develops the concentration of the participants especially among young people who have difficulty focusing.

Description

Sit in a circle, in chairs preferably.
(Can also be played standing or sitting, with different moves)

The Leader taps their foot to set the time (equal beat), and everyone follows, tapping their foot to keep the time.

The leader sets a very simple rhythm, in keeping with a 4/4 timing ie: Slap, Slap, Clap, …
1) Slap thigh with both hands, 2) Slap thigh with both hands, 3) Clap, 4) (nothing).

Everyone joins in with this rhythm

Once everyone is in time and the time is right, the leader passes a new rhythm:
Clap, Clap, Clap, …

** The leader can look to the right when passing, but it is the person on the right’s responsibility to check their left and take a rhythm when it is being passed **

The leader creates a new rhythm and passes it on;
Slap, Clap, Clap, Clap

The leader creates a new rhythm and passes it on;
Slap, Clap-Clap, Chest hit, Slap.

** The person to the right looks to the left, watches 1 or 2 rounds of the rhythm, then copies it **

** The tempo must be kept throughout **

 

Description

You can create more complex rhythms, sing different part of the body, different timings etc.

Participants can suggest rhythms, including rhythms from their own favourite music or culture. And the leader can change – switch who is leading suggesting different things to do & say. 

comments for facilitators

The exercise could be very useful to young people who have difficulty focusing.
You may need to stop and start again multiple times. This is ok! Bring the participants back to the rhythm every time, remind them to keep the rhythm.

Printable version

Rhythm Intro Circle

by | Nov 29, 2022

29

Category

vocal
rhythmic

Age

8+

Number of participants

8-30

Duration

approx. 10 min.

Working method

group work

Musical abilities of the trainers

1  2  3  4  5  6

Competences
  • concentration
  • collaboration
  • attention
  • cooperation
  • sence of rhythm

Rhythm Intro Circle

Team building exercise improving rhythm skills
and concentration.

AIM

The aim is to improve the rhythm skills and concentration of participants, and also to get to know each other.
The game can be adapted for different levels.

Description

Sit in a circle, in chairs preferably.
(Can also be played standing or sitting, with different moves)

The Leader taps their foot to set the time, in 4/4 time, and everyone follows, tapping their foot to keep the time.

Round 1
The leader demos a rhythm/movement, and everyone copies
Slap (thigh), Slap (thigh), Hands up, Hands Up

Everyone Copies & joins in

Round 2
Next step – adding your name
“This time, instead of putting your hands up, you say your name! Everyone else, still put your hands up, until it’s your turn to say your name”.

The leader demos and passes it on:
Slap (thigh), Slap (thigh), “Your Name”

This is passed around the circle, until everyone has said their name

Round 3
Next step – your favourite food
“This time, instead of putting your hands up, you say your favourite food! Everyone else, still put your hands up, until it’s your turn to say your name”.

The leader demos and passes it on:
Slap (thigh), Slap (thigh), “Pizza!”

This is passed around the circle, until everyone has said their favourite food.

You can continue, adding in questions – favourite film, favourite musician, thing that scares you, food you hate, etc.

** Always keep the rhythm **
** The person to the right looks to the left, watches 1 or 2 rounds of the rhythm, then copies it **
** The tempo must be kept throughout **

Level up!

You can use more complex rhythms, using different part of the body, different timings etc..

You can replace the slaps etc with words that fit the Rhythm, ie:
I like Pi – zza
Cheese Bur-ger with Ba-con
etc…

Participants can suggest rhythms, including rhythms from their own favourite music or culture.
And the leader can change – switch who is leading suggesting different things to do & say.

comments for facilitators

This is anything from a short intro/icebreaker, to a full session creating a piece of music. This all depends on the group and the facilitators.

Printable version

Human Sampler

by | Nov 29, 2022

30

Category

vocal
instrumental

Age

8+

Number of participants

4-40

Duration

approx. 10-60 min.

Working method

group work

Musical abilities of the trainers

12  3  4  5  6

Equipment and instruments
  • optional: rhythm instruments, percussion, any other instruments
Competences
  • concentration
  • collaboration
  • attention
  • cooperation
  • sence of rhythm

Human Sampler

This is a game to get everyone involved – and it can range
from something very simple to quite complex.

AIM

The main aim is inclusion, team building.
Everyone is able to make a sound, feel to be included and present in the group, experienced to create crazy sounds, or even an actual piece of music.
It can also be a performance, with practice and time!

Description

This is a game where each player chooses randomly a sound and the team creates music by singing the chosen sound when the leader (DJ) makes a sign.

 

LEVEL 1 – Intro/Ice Breaker

  1. Participants stand in a circle, with their arms out in front of them (elbows bent for comfort!).
  2. Participants are asked to think of a sound to make, when the DJ/Producer touches/pushes down their hand.
  3. The DJ then goes around the circle, in order or randomly, touching/pushing down the hands, and the participants immediately make their sound when touched.
  4. The DJ can then make rhythms with the sounds.
  5. The leader then picks 1 or 2 more DJs (depending on the size of the group), and they ‘play’ the human sampler, trying to stay in rhythm together.
  6. Switch DJs, Change sounds.
  7. You can also split the group into 2, so more people can play. After a few minutes, one group can listen to the others’ sounds being played.

 

LEVEL 2 – Tiny Tracks

  1. As above, with these adaptations:
  2. This can all be demonstrated before you split the groups, with examples of all the sounds. This is fun – no need to be perfect!
  3. Split the circle in 2 – with 2 semi circles.
  4. Split those groups into 3 ‘Banks’ of sounds. Each bank is an element of a track: Drums, Percussion, Sounds/Samples
    Bank A – Drums
    Kick, Snare, Closed hi-Hat, Open Hi-Hat, Crash Cymbal
    Bank B – Percussion
    Hand Claps, Finger Snaps, Shaker sounds, Mouth sounds etc
    Bank C – Sounds/Samples
    Any sounds – these can be any sounds – random, or in tune
    with each other…
  5. Choose 1 DJ for each bank.
  6. Tell the groups then have 10’ to find their sounds, practice,
    and create a short piece of music. You can set the length as from 30s – 1’
  7. Before they go off in their groups, you can demo some sounds again here, and also demo an example of what it could sound like. Give one group the sounds, then play a Hip-hop beat, a Drum & Bass beat, a House beat, a Bossa beat… etc.
  8. Groups then have 10’ to prepare their track.
  9. Performance

 

LEVEL 3 – Making Music

As above with these adaptations:
You can add more banks, and more DJs.
Bank D/E/F… – Bass/Keys/Singing…
You can add as many banks as you like, depending on numbers and skill level of the group.
Bank D – Bass
This can be a number of people, ‘singing’ different bass notes, OR it can be one person doing the whole bassline.
Bank E – Keys
This can be a number of people, ‘singing’ different piano/keyboard notes, OR it can be one person doing the whole thing.
Bank F – Singing
This can be one person singing a song, or just singing a melody without words, OR you can split it up into parts.
Other Banks…
Strings, Brass, Stabs, Scratches etc…

Depending on the level of the group, they can create their own pieces of music, recreate existing pieces of music/songs etc.

You can adapt things as you wish – but it’s good to have the beats, sounds/samples, percussion done by the SAMPLER, and then people can sing over the top, do harmonies, etc.

comments for facilitators

Start with slow rhythm and speed up gradually.
Each round, get participants to focus on the rhythm – especially after they have mastered the pattern.

Printable version

Human Keyboard

by | Nov 29, 2022

31

Category

vocal

Age

8+

Number of participants

8-56

Duration

approx. 10-30 min.

Working method

group work

Musical abilities of the trainers

1  2  3  4 5 6

Competences
  • concentration
  • collaboration
  • attention
  • cooperation
  • sence of rhythm

Human Keyboard

This is a game to get everyone involved – and it can range
from something very simple to quite complex.

AIM

The main aim is inclusion, team building.
Everyone is able to make a sound, feel to be included and present in the group, experienced to build something from simple to more complex.
It can also be a performance, with practice and time!

Description

This a game where players represent the keys of the piano and team creates music by singing the key they represent when leader makes a sign.

LEVEL 1 – Intro/Ice Breaker

Participants stand in a line with their arms out in front of them (elbows bent for comfort!).

Participants are given a sound to make, when the DJ/Producer touches/pushes down their hand. This sound can be a ‘Laa’ or a ‘Bom’ – any kind of sound.

Then 8 people given a Key with the name (C, D, etc). You can even ‘sing’ the name of the Key. You can also use a piano/keyboard etc for the actual tuning if you like/need.

C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

Practice by ‘playing’ the keyboard. Play a scale. Play random notes. Then play 2 notes together on different keys.

Next, gather any additional people up around each ‘Key’. Make the space needed so everyone can see when you push the hand of the lead key. Also space people out so you can reach all the keys easily!

Practice again by playing the keyboard and doing a Scale.

Play the keyboard!

Get different people to play the keyboard.

 

LEVEL 2 – Tiny songs

As above, with these adaptations:

After the Demo with 8 people, or after the activity above:

Split the group into teams – of 9 or more.
Each Team has 10-15’ to create and practice a short piece of music, 30s-1’ long.

Performances 

 

LEVEL 3 – Making Music

As above, with these adaptations:

You can have multiple keyboard players.
You can also have a singer, or group of singers, playing alongside the piano.

You could combine with the Human Sampler!

Participants are given 30’ or so to create a piece of music – original or an existing song, to perform.

comments for facilitators

This is anything from a short intro/icebreaker, to a full session creating a piece of music. This all depends on the group and the facilitators.
Similar to the Human Sampler, but with more musicality/skill.

Printable version