Composing Your Own Rhythm
You have learned all the body percussion skills! Now it is time to CREATE your own rhythm composition. When you create music, you are called a COMPOSER!
Here is how to compose your own eight-beat body percussion pattern:
Step 1: Choose your sounds. Pick three or four sounds from your toolkit: clap, snap, stomp, pat, chest drum, tongue click, rub, or rest.
Step 2: Arrange eight beats. Decide what sound goes on each beat. You can use the same sound more than once!
Example: Clap, pat, stomp, REST, clap, pat, stomp, snap
Step 3: Practice it. Do your pattern slowly at first. Make sure you can remember all eight beats. Then speed up to a medium tempo.
Step 4: Repeat it. A pattern only becomes a groove when you can repeat it over and over without stopping or making mistakes.
Step 5: Perform it! Stand up, take a breath, and perform your composition from start to finish, repeating it at least four times.
Tips for a great composition:
Mix loud and soft sounds for contrast.
Include at least one rest for breathing space.
Make it something YOU enjoy performing.
Give your composition a title!