Pumped Up Play-Alongs

• Polina Mann
• Posted 5/13/24
• 0 comments

Many of us rely on play-along music videos found on YouTube to fill extra time at the end of class or provide us with ready-made substitute lesson plans.  However, have you ever considered using these play-along videos as a model for student composition?  Funky Veggies -Percussion by Musication provides a perfect opportunity for this kind of lesson.   

In my classroom, I start by showing a frozen image of the video where you see three lines of beats across the screen. I explain how the play-along works.  Students choose a line and then clap/snap/pat whenever there is a white square, but not on the other beats.  After the first exposure, I divide my students into three groups, assign each one of the colored lines and an Unpitched Percussion Instrument, and have them play along.  We rotate instruments and colors until the students have played each of the three lines. 

Once students understand the process, I change different variables when they play along to ensure that they can later create their own composition. Some of the variables I change include: 

• Change the speed settings on the video. 
• Turn off the volume and have students play with the visual only. 

Once my students understand how these complementary rhythms work together, I draw a similar grid on the whiteboard.   As a class, students choose which boxes in each line they want to be filled in and which kind of body percussion or unpitched percussion instrument will play each line.  We play the composition as a class, rotate parts, and then discuss other possibilities for composing. 

I introduce the idea of adding calisthenics (squats, jumps, twirls), found sounds (ripping paper, hitting the floor), or various pieces of gym equipment (tennis balls, hula hoops).  As a class, we explored performing our compositions using these different mediums. 

Next, I divide students into groups of three.  Students work together to create three 16-beat complimentary rhythm patterns.  First, they perform the pattern using body percussion.  If their pattern works, I allow them to choose from the different mediums we have explored as a class for their final performance.  I have students perform their final composition for each other, or I divide the classes into three groups to play each other’s compositions if there are time constraints.  

Example:

Consider using this idea as a jumping-off point to collaborate with your gym teacher to build cross-curricular experiences for your students!  

Other Musication videos using a similar format include: 

Bouncing Ball Beat – Percussion 

Bouncing Bicycles 

The next time you utilize a play-along in your classroom, instead of passively watching your students interact with the video, put on your creativity cap.  Who knows what fabulous ideas you will think of to Pump Up Play-Alongs in your music room! 

Musication. (2021, June 24). Funky veggies – percussion. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hb5_TK6Uks&t=21s  

Musication. (2023a, March 14). Bouncing Bicycle – Percussion. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx15HhWfPxE  

Musication. (2023b, March 14). Bouncing Bicycle – Percussion. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx15HhWfPxE  

Musication. (n.d.). Musication. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuNYP6sYWgjAddNo534PEKQ  

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