Digital @ The Arts Unit Creative Classes

Body beats

Use Chrome Music Lab Rhythm to explore rhythm using body percussion

Student music resource developed by The Arts Unit

Year 3 to Year 6 music

4 beat rhythm patterns

Click the right arrow in Chrome Music Lab Rhythm to go to the 4 beat animated monster characters.

image of 4 metre characters - 2 blue monsters

All activities on this page will be using this 4 beat section of Chrome Music Lab.



Can you name the instruments the characters are playing?
high hat cymbal - clap hands, snare drum - slap knees, base drum - stomp foot

We will complete activities line by line and then try putting it all together!

You might like to try practising each of the rhythm patterns first before trying with the computer.


Clapping patterns

Copy the pattern into the Chrome Music Lab Rhythm grid by clicking on the dots on the top line to create the yellow diamonds which are played by the hi-hat cymbal.

Once you have copied the pattern push play and copy the pattern by clapping your hands in time to the rhythm.

Pattern 1

4 beat pattern 1 - clap and clap and clap and clap and

Pattern 2

4 beat pattern 2 - clap and clap clap clap and clap and

Now it is your turn.

Create your own clapping pattern by clicking on dots on the top line only.

Share your pattern with your classmates and see if they can follow it.

Slapping knees

Copy the pattern into the grid by clicking on the dots on the middle line to create the blue circles which are played by the snare drum.

Once you have copied the pattern push play and copy the pattern by slapping your knees in time to the rhythm.

Pattern 1

4 beat pattern 1 - knees and knees and knees and knees and

Pattern 2

4 beat pattern 2 - knees knees and and knees knees and and

Now it is your turn.

Create your own knee slapping pattern by clicking on dots on the middle line only.

Share your pattern with your classmates and see if they can follow it.

Stomping feet

Copy the pattern into the Chrome Music Lab Rhythm grid by clicking on the dots on the bottom line to create the red circles which are played by the base drum.

Once you have copied the pattern push play and copy the pattern by stomping your feet in time to the rhythm.

Pattern 1

4 beat pattern 1 - stomp and stomp and stomp and stomp and

Pattern 2

4 beat pattern 2 - stomp stomp stomp and stomp stomp stomp and

Now it is your turn.

Create your own clapping pattern by clicking on dots on the bottom line only.

Share your pattern with your classmates and see if they can follow it.

Putting it all together!

Lets put clapping hands and slapping knees together.

Copy these patterns

Pattern 1

4 beat pattern 1 - clap and clap and knees and knees and

Pattern 2

4 beat pattern 2 - clap clap knees and clap clap knees and

Here is a tricky one! Watch out the rhythm is much faster!

Pattern 3

4 beat pattern 3 - clap knees knees clap clap knee knee clap

Now it is your turn.

Create your pattern combining both clapping hands and slapping knees. How tricky can you be?

Share your pattern with your classmates and see if they can follow it.

Lets put all 3 together. Remember our symbols:

high hat cymbal - clap hands, snare drum - slap knees, base drum - stomp foot

Pattern 1

4 beat pattern 1 - clap and stomp stomp knees and knees and

Pattern 2

Here is a tricky one! Watch out the rhythm is much faster!

4 beat pattern 2 - stomp stomp clap stomp stomp clap knees knees

Now it is your turn.

Create your pattern combining both clapping hands and slapping knees. How tricky can you be?

Share your pattern with your classmates and see if they can follow it.

Extension activities

You could try:

  • Use alternate body percussion for example click fingers, pat cheeks, tap chest.

  • Divide the class into 3 groups and have each one play a different part. Have the class perform all 3 parts simultaneously.

  • Perform the rhythms using untuned percussion instruments instead of body percussion.

Challenge

Watch the video 'InRhythm Body Percussion Demo' and join in with the students as they are challenged to learn some 4 beat body percussion rhythms.

InRhythm Body Percussion Demo

Duration: 02:20

Third-party content attributions

Anna Warr or other TAU photographer

  • Schools Spectacular images 1-4, photographer: Anna Warr.

ARTEXPRESS, Operation Art, etc.

[Title of the artwork], © [Name of student], [Year published], reproduced and communicated with permission.

  • The Shark, © Sue Dawson, 2016, reproduced and communicated with permission.

Creative commons or other images that need attribution - use Open Attribution Builder

Our Kids

  • Girl in Garden 1-4, © Sue Dawson, 2020, reproduced and communicated with permission. Provided all acknowledgements are retained, these images may be reproduced free of charge for non-commercial educational purposes within Australia only.

Content from artists already licensed with TAU

[Title of work with source link if possible], © [Copyright owner], [Year published], reproduced and communicated with permission.

section 113P

[Title of work with source link if possible], [Creator], © [Copyright owner], [Year published], copied under s113P, accessed [dd mmm yyyy].

  • Butterfly Effects, © James Powditch, 2007, copied under s113P, accessed 24 May 2020.

  • Over the Rainbow, songwriters: E.Y. Harburg / Harold Arlen, lyrics: © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Conexion Media Group, Inc, copied under s113P, accessed 21 September 2019.