Pass Two Beanbags with a Partner in a Square
What is it?
Student and teacher each have a bean bag in their right hand.
Each passes their beanbag to their partner's left hand.(at first sequentially and then simultaneously)
Both student and teacher simutaneously clap their bean bag infront of them.
Each passes their beanbag to their own right hand.
Once students have mastered the basic pattern, you can increase the challenge by having them pass the bean bags simultaneously.
This requires even greater coordination and timing, as both partners must synchronize their movements perfectly to maintain the rhythm.
It also encourages students to listen more closely to each other and to the music, fostering a deeper sense of connection and teamwork
The goal is to get to a fluid rhythm of passing and clapping together.
This rhythm is the boom- chick found at the heart of most rock and dance music.
Why this lesson matters:
Have students work together and synchronize their movements. Students gradually learn to hear, feel and flow with a steady 'Boom, Chick'.
As a student learn to perform an action fluidly they are training their cerebellum and basal ganglia.
This sense of flow and timing will inform all other musical development.
This learned fluidity can transfer in to speaking and reading and conversing more fluidly!
Level Two: with peers
Once students have mastered the basic pattern, you can increase the challenge by having them pass the bean bags simultaneously. This requires even greater coordination and timing, as both partners must synchronize their movements perfectly to maintain the rhythm. It also encourages students to listen more closely to each other and to the music, fostering a deeper sense of connection and teamwork.
Level Three: a group in a circle
Students can form a circle.
Each student has a bean bag in their right hand.
Note if students are not yet clear on which hand is which, use colored wrist bands
1- Hold Beanbag in right hand.
2- Open left hand face up.
3- Put your beanbag in the hand of the person on your right side/Receive the beanbag from the person on your left side in your left hand.
4- Clap your hands together with the beanbag in between.
5- Pass the beanbag in your left hand to your right hand.
Deep Dive:
Organizing power of rhythm. Rhythm comes from the brain stem.- neurologically it orders other sensory motor processes. As people lock into a steady beat, they begin to experience a sense of flow and coordination that enhances their overall musical and physical development.