Note: A different version of this material was first published in Reverberations on AOSA's website. Re-used with permission.
Movement is critical to student rhythmic development. The coordination of gross motor skills builds both steady beat skills and establishes the foundation for audiating meter. The Rhythmische Ubung by Gunild Keetman is an excellent source for movement development.
The 78 pieces for body percussion cover a wide variety of meters, phrase lengths, and orchestrations and many of the pieces can be adapted for junkyard percussion.
For example, #51 utilizes gross-motor movement and looks like this:
The 78 pieces for body percussion cover a wide variety of meters, phrase lengths, and orchestrations and many of the pieces can be adapted for junkyard percussion.
For example, #51 utilizes gross-motor movement and looks like this:
Teach your students this piece on body percussion over the course of several classes. Then add buckets once they are successful. Another idea is to have students use 'imaginary' buckets until they know what they are doing. A group performance can happen in two straight lines or even better, two concentric circles like this:
