Contenidos
Primero de ESO: cuatro sonidos y una canción entera
In 1st year the goal is one: the whole class plays a song from start to finish without losing the pulse. Here are the steps, from a cup on a table to "We Will Rock You" with the whole body.
Before you start
If you have not read The body as an instrument, start there: the four sounds, the pulse and the mirror. Here they are taken for granted.
Step 1: a cup and a table
The most famous rhythm in the world made with an object is the "Cup Song": a cup, a table and eight gestures that repeat. It is body percussion with help, and it is perfect to start with because the cup keeps the pulse for you. This tutorial is in Spanish and goes slowly.
Cup rhythm tutorial, in Spanish
Another one, step by step, in case the first one is too fast.
Cup Song step by step
Step 2: boom, boom, clap
"We Will Rock You" is the best-known body percussion rhythm there is: two stamps and a clap, and a whole stadium does it without being taught. Its article has the story; here is the body. First the rhythm-gram: follow it while it plays.
We Will Rock You rhythm-gram
Once it comes without looking, Salvo Russo's tutorial adds a second layer and turns it into more than boom, boom, clap.
We Will Rock You tutorial
Step 3: following a rhythm-gram
A rhythm-gram is a video where the gestures appear on screen with the song. Nothing to learn: you read it. These three go from easiest to less easy.
Pop rhythm, to begin
Tetris theme
Legato and staccato with movement
Step 4: the 1st-year songs
Two songs from the 1st-year book have a rhythm-gram. Read their article first, then give them a body.
- Memories: a simple rhythm-gram over the Pachelbel bass line that holds the whole song.
Memories rhythm-gram
- Perfect: six-eight time, which sways instead of marching. It is the first time the pulse is not counted to four.
Perfect rhythm-gram
And two classics from the 3rd-year book that can already be played at this age.
- Come and Get Your Love: a pure pulse play-along. You just have to keep it.
Come and Get Your Love, pulse
- Hit the Road Jack: a rhythm-gram in Spanish, with the dotted rhythm that makes the song limp on purpose.
Hit the Road Jack rhythm-gram
Step 5: a game with your name
Every name has a rhythm. "Je-sús" is two hits; "Va-le-ria" is three. With that you can build a whole piece without a score. The activity is by Ollie Tunmer, who played in Stomp before becoming a teacher.
Name-based body percussion
Step 6: a concert piece
To end the year, a full classical piece with the body: Beethoven's Contredanse No. 5, as a rhythm-gram. It is short, has a clear form (each part repeats twice) and looks good in front of people.
Beethoven, Contredanse No. 5
Classroom activities
- Model session (15 minutes): one-bar echo, three times; a whole rhythm-gram; the new chunk of the term's song; and the rhythm-gram again, standing up this time.
- Two groups. Half the class does feet and the other half claps in "We Will Rock You". On the signal, they swap without stopping.
- The conductor. One student keeps the pulse with their feet in front of the class; the others follow their tempo, not the video's. Change conductor every verse.
- Classroom concert. On the last day of term, each group of five plays one piece from this chapter for the others.
Key vocabulary
- Ostinato: a short pattern repeated without change through the whole song.
- Rhythm-gram: a video with the gestures on screen in time with the song.
- 4/4 time: count to four and start again.
- 6/8 time: count in two groups of three; it sways.
- Dotted note: lengthens a note by half its value; it makes the rhythm "limp".
Antes de empezar
Si no has leído El cuerpo como instrumento, empieza por ahí: los cuatro sonidos, el pulso y el espejo. Aquí se dan por sabidos.
Paso 1: un vaso y una mesa
El ritmo más famoso del mundo hecho con un objeto es el «Cup Song»: un vaso, una mesa y ocho gestos que se repiten. Es percusión corporal con ayuda, y es perfecto para empezar porque el vaso marca el pulso solo. Este tutorial está en castellano y va despacio.
Tutorial del ritmo con vasos, en castellano
Otro, paso a paso, por si el primero va rápido.
Cup Song paso a paso
Paso 2: pum, pum, pa
«We Will Rock You» es el ritmo de percusión corporal más conocido que existe: dos pisadas y una palmada, y todo un estadio lo hace sin que nadie se lo enseñe. En su artículo está la historia; aquí está el cuerpo. Primero el ritmograma: síguelo mientras suena.
We Will Rock You, ritmograma
Cuando salga sin mirar, el tutorial de Salvo Russo añade una segunda capa y lo convierte en algo más que pum, pum, pa.
We Will Rock You, tutorial
Paso 3: seguir un ritmograma
Un ritmograma es un vídeo donde los gestos salen en pantalla con la canción. No hay que aprenderse nada: se lee. Estos tres van de más fácil a menos.
Ritmo pop, para empezar
Tema de Tetris
Legato y staccato con movimiento
Paso 4: las canciones de 1.º
Dos de las canciones del libro de 1.º tienen ritmograma. Léelas antes en su artículo y después ponles el cuerpo.
- Memories: un ritmograma sencillo sobre el bajo de Pachelbel que sostiene toda la canción.
Memories, ritmograma
- Perfect: compás de seis por ocho, que se balancea en vez de marchar. Es la primera vez que el pulso no se cuenta hasta cuatro.
Perfect, ritmograma
Y dos clásicos que están en el libro de 3.º pero que a esta edad ya se pueden tocar.
- Come and Get Your Love: un play-along de pulso puro. Solo hay que no perderlo.
Come and Get Your Love, pulso
- Hit the Road Jack: musicograma en castellano, con el ritmo con puntillo que hace que la canción cojee a propósito.
Hit the Road Jack, musicograma
Paso 5: un juego con tu nombre
Cada nombre tiene un ritmo. «Je-sús» son dos golpes; «Va-le-ria» son tres. Con eso se monta una pieza entera sin partitura. La actividad es de Ollie Tunmer, que tocó en Stomp antes de ser profesor.
Percusión corporal con los nombres
Paso 6: una pieza de concierto
Para acabar el curso, una pieza clásica entera con el cuerpo: la Contradanza n.º 5 de Beethoven, en ritmograma. Es corta, tiene forma clara (se repite dos veces cada parte) y queda bien delante de gente.
Contradanza n.º 5 de Beethoven
Para hacer en clase
- Sesión tipo (15 minutos): eco de un compás, tres veces; un ritmograma entero; el trozo nuevo de la canción del trimestre; y otra vez el ritmograma, ya de pie.
- Dos grupos. La mitad de la clase hace pies y la otra mitad palmas en «We Will Rock You». A la señal, se cambian sin parar.
- El director. Un alumno marca el pulso con los pies delante de la clase; los demás siguen su tempo, no el del vídeo. Cambia el director cada estrofa.
- Concierto de aula. El último día del trimestre, cada grupo de cinco toca una de las piezas de este capítulo delante de los demás.
Vocabulario fundamental
- Ostinato: patrón corto que se repite sin cambiar durante toda la canción.
- Ritmograma: vídeo con los gestos en pantalla al ritmo de la canción.
- Compás de 4/4: se cuenta hasta cuatro y se vuelve a empezar.
- Compás de 6/8: se cuenta en dos grupos de tres; se balancea.
- Puntillo: alarga una figura la mitad de su valor; hace que el ritmo «cojee».
Before you start
If you have not read The body as an instrument, start there: the four sounds, the pulse and the mirror. Here they are taken for granted.
Step 1: a cup and a table
The most famous rhythm in the world made with an object is the "Cup Song": a cup, a table and eight gestures that repeat. It is body percussion with help, and it is perfect to start with because the cup keeps the pulse for you. This tutorial is in Spanish and goes slowly.
Cup rhythm tutorial, in Spanish
Another one, step by step, in case the first one is too fast.
Cup Song step by step
Step 2: boom, boom, clap
"We Will Rock You" is the best-known body percussion rhythm there is: two stamps and a clap, and a whole stadium does it without being taught. Its article has the story; here is the body. First the rhythm-gram: follow it while it plays.
We Will Rock You rhythm-gram
Once it comes without looking, Salvo Russo's tutorial adds a second layer and turns it into more than boom, boom, clap.
We Will Rock You tutorial
Step 3: following a rhythm-gram
A rhythm-gram is a video where the gestures appear on screen with the song. Nothing to learn: you read it. These three go from easiest to less easy.
Pop rhythm, to begin
Tetris theme
Legato and staccato with movement
Step 4: the 1st-year songs
Two songs from the 1st-year book have a rhythm-gram. Read their article first, then give them a body.
- Memories: a simple rhythm-gram over the Pachelbel bass line that holds the whole song.
Memories rhythm-gram
- Perfect: six-eight time, which sways instead of marching. It is the first time the pulse is not counted to four.
Perfect rhythm-gram
And two classics from the 3rd-year book that can already be played at this age.
- Come and Get Your Love: a pure pulse play-along. You just have to keep it.
Come and Get Your Love, pulse
- Hit the Road Jack: a rhythm-gram in Spanish, with the dotted rhythm that makes the song limp on purpose.
Hit the Road Jack rhythm-gram
Step 5: a game with your name
Every name has a rhythm. "Je-sús" is two hits; "Va-le-ria" is three. With that you can build a whole piece without a score. The activity is by Ollie Tunmer, who played in Stomp before becoming a teacher.
Name-based body percussion
Step 6: a concert piece
To end the year, a full classical piece with the body: Beethoven's Contredanse No. 5, as a rhythm-gram. It is short, has a clear form (each part repeats twice) and looks good in front of people.
Beethoven, Contredanse No. 5
Classroom activities
- Model session (15 minutes): one-bar echo, three times; a whole rhythm-gram; the new chunk of the term's song; and the rhythm-gram again, standing up this time.
- Two groups. Half the class does feet and the other half claps in "We Will Rock You". On the signal, they swap without stopping.
- The conductor. One student keeps the pulse with their feet in front of the class; the others follow their tempo, not the video's. Change conductor every verse.
- Classroom concert. On the last day of term, each group of five plays one piece from this chapter for the others.
Key vocabulary
- Ostinato: a short pattern repeated without change through the whole song.
- Rhythm-gram: a video with the gestures on screen in time with the song.
- 4/4 time: count to four and start again.
- 6/8 time: count in two groups of three; it sways.
- Dotted note: lengthens a note by half its value; it makes the rhythm "limp".