Prep. Lesson 20. Body percussion
Prior learning:
Duration: 30 minutes
Materials: None
Keywords: Beat, singing, chanting, partners, rhymes, circle games
Difficulty: 
Body percussion is the technique of using the body to make different sounds. Four main audible sounds can be produced with body percussion:
- Clicking (or snapping)
- Clapping (or tapping)
- Patting and slapping (patsch)
- Stamping (or stomping)
Note: At this year level, clicking may be hard to perform. Substitute any other body percussion movement if desired.
Introducing students to body percussion produces many benefits:
- Students learn about rhythm and other musical concepts.
- Introduction to percussion instruments that produce a sound by shaking or striking.
- Students discover how their bodies can make sounds similar to percussion instruments.
- Development of students' auditory discrimination.
- Builds gross and fine motor coordination.
- Develops awareness of their bodies.
- Develops social skills as students work together to create musical sounds.
- Improves focus and attention span.
Melodic development
Students use new words in a familiar song to demonstrate body percussion.
Lyrics (for body percussion}
This is the way we tap our heads,
Tap our heads, tap our heads.
This is the way we tap our heads,
When we sing this song.
This is the way we clap our hands,
Clap our hands, clap our hands,
This is the way we clap our hands,
When we sing this song.
This is the way we slap our thighs,
Slap our thighs, slap our thighs.
This is the way we slap our thighs,
When we sing this song.
This is the way we stamp our feet,
Stamp our feet, stamp our feet.
This is the way we stamp our feet,
When we sing this song.
- When students are comfortable with Mulberry Bush, inform them that they will learn new lyrics and movements for the song. Use a piano track or sing to maintain the beat.
- Arrange students in a circle and instruct them to follow your lead, tapping their heads to the beat.
- Sing the first new verse while tapping your head and encourage students to mimic your actions.
- Once students are confident, introduce the next verse and explain that they should clap to the beat while singing the updated lyrics.
- Continue this process for the subsequent verses, ensuring students understand and execute the movements accurately.
- This activity adds variety and reinforces rhythmic understanding through physical engagement.
Game
Students repeat body movements demonstrated by the teacher.
- When students are familiar and confident with the song, introduce the accompanying body percussion movements to enhance engagement and learning.
- Sing the song and demonstrate the following actions in sync with the beat:
- "Naughty pussy cat": Students point at an imaginary cat using their index finger.
- "You are very fat": Students pat their tummies with their hands. [This line can be replaced with "You can catch a rat" to remove the word "fat" with its negative connotations.]
- "You have butter on your whiskers": Students pat their heads.
- "Naughty pussy cat": Students pat their knees.
- Maintain a steady beat and ensure each student accurately performs the movements.
- This activity promotes coordination and rhythm comprehension, adding kinesthetic to the learning experience.
- Students are in a circle and stand in the centre.
- Inform them they must watch, listen, and copy your sounds.
- Raise your right leg slightly and stamp. Students should imitate.
- Repeat, then switch to your left leg. Ensure all students are attentive.
- Create another sound using body percussion (e.g., clapping hands, patting head, or slapping knees). Students should replicate the action.
- Once students successfully mimic the sound, introduce another body percussion technique for them to follow.
- As students become proficient, allow one to lead the class, fostering their confidence and engagement. This activity enhances students' listening and coordination skills through interactive learning.
Rhythmic development
Students learn and practice a well-known rhyme with an emphasis on body percussion.
- Recite the rhyme with students, ensuring they are attentive
- Have students say "Tick Tock, Tick Tock" while swinging their hands against their thighs, maintaining a steady beat.
- Demonstrate jumping slightly from one foot to another for "Hickory Dickory Dock."
- Practice several times.
Instruct students to pat their thighs, waist, and chest sequentially during "The Mouse Ran Up The Clock." - Raise arms, clap once for "The Clock," and pat chest for "Struck One."
Pat waist for "The Mouse" and thighs for "Ran Down."
Repeat the jumping motion for "Hickory Dickory Dock."
Conclude with "Tick Tock, Tick Tock" while bouncing arms on thighs. - This activity may seem complex, but it becomes very simple when practised, helping students develop coordination and rhythm.
Part work
Students take a partner and use a simple set of body percussion movements to a steady beat.
- When students are familiar with "Pease Pudding Hot," have them take a partner and face each other.
- Sing along and perform these body percussion movements:
- Beat 1 - Pat knees
- Beat 2 - Clap
- Beat 3 - Pat partner's hands
- Beat 4 - Clap
- For added fun, incorporate alternate movements like patting heads or stomping feet.
- A volunteer can create a pattern for the class to follow.
- Ensure a steady beat and attentive singing throughout the activity.
Farewell
Reinforces students' pitch ability through listening, imitation, and repetition. 'Good morning' or 'Bee, Bee, Bumblebee' are good examples.
Suggested lessons
Prep. Lesson 21. Exploring high and low sounds II
Students improve their listening skills and discover more about high and low sounds. AC9AMUFP01