BODY JAM

A Music Educators Guide to Portable Percussion

Florida Music Educators Conference
Presenter - Dave Holland

THE SOUNDS
Palm - A low sound created by using the cupped palm and striking the right hand into
the left hand (RP) or visa versa (LP).
Clap - A high sound created with both hands flat, striking the right fingers against the
left palm (RC) or visa versa (LC).
Snap - A dry, crisp sound created by snapping the middle finger of the right hand
against the right thumb (RS) or the middle finger of the left hand against the left thumb
(LS).
Chest - A warm, thud sound created by striking the right hand (RC) or left hand (LC)
against the center of the chest.
Lap - A mid-range sound created by striking the right knee with the right hand (RL) or
the left knee with the left hand (LL).
Thigh - I low-range sound created by striking the back of the right thigh with the right
hand (RT) or the back of the left thigh with the left hand (LT).
Foot - A ground, thud sound by stamping the right foot onto the floor (RF) or the left
foot onto the floor (LF).

THE GAMES
Body Part Jam - (from Drumagination)
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Call (Sung or chanted): Lets all play our body parts.
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Response: Lets all play our body parts.
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Call: Cause the rhythms comin from our hearts.
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Response: Cause the rhythms comin from our hearts.
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Call: From our heads down to our toes.
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Response: From our heads down to our toes.
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Call: Show me how your rhythm goes.
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Response: Show me how your rhythm goes.
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(Improv Body Jam!)

Whats the Haps? - (from Interactive Rhythm)

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(Rapped and Acted out, in a Swing Rhythm)
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Snap - both hands snap
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Clap - hands clap
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Put the rhythm in your lap - Play rhythm of the words on laps
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Say Hey! what s the Haps? - On the word Hey!, put hands in the air. On the
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word Haps, put right hands out & left hands behind, pivot to the right and
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connect with the hand in front of you.
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And thats a Wrap! - On the words And thats a..., rub hands together. On the
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word wrap, put both hands up and out, connecting with the outwardly facing
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hands to either side of you.
Put it All Together - (from Interactive Rhythm)
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Facilitator gives directions and then leaves space for creative expression!
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Hand claps | * * * * |
Finger snaps | * * * * |
Play on your lap | * * * * |
And put it all together now, any way you want to! |: * * * * :|
(For additional verses, check out Interactive Rhythm!)

THE RHYTHMS
(4 beat rhythms that are divided into 1/8 notes. *s represent spaces, or rests)
Body Baion
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|: RC LS RS LC RS LS RH * :|
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KTS Buggy Ride (Keith Terrys Body Walk Down)
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|: RH RC LC RL LL RT LT * :| (Try alternating w/ left hand lead!)

Thank you for the bug-gy ride.

Ham Bone (3+3+2)

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(This rhythm requires an extra SOUND - the Back Lap. In this case, both back
hands strike the lap (BL). This rhythm also incorporates a couple of other #double
sounds: 2T and 2C. These sounds are created by both hands, simultaneously striking
the thighs (2T) and chest (2C). #
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|: 2T 2C BL 2T 2C BL 2T * : |

We Will Rock You!

"
"
|: RF * LF * RH * * * :|

THE ENSEMBLE
* Beledi is a popular rhythm played throughout the Middle East.
* Uskudar is a town in Turkey and also a traditional folk song.
(This is an 4 beat rhythm, divided into 16th notes.)
GROUP 1: |: RF * LF * * * * * LF * * * * * * * :|
GROUP 2: |: * * * * RL LL RL *

* * RL LL

RL * * * :|

GROUP 3: |: RC * LC * RS * RH * RC * LS * LH * (RS) * :|

Uskudar
Uskudara gider iken aldi da bir yagmur (2xs)
Katibimin setresi uzun eteyi jamur (2xs)
* English Translation: When I was going to Uskudar, it started to rain. My
scribes coats are long. His skirt got muddy.

CONTACT
Dave Holland
dave@interactiverhythm.com
404.819.4053
Find out more about Daves resources, instruments and workshops at:
www.interactiverhythm.com
Join our mailing list by sending an e-mail to:
office@interactiverhythm.com
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