Here is a Group of Music Camp students participating in the Rhythm Game! Game rules are written out below.
This group game teaches rhythm skills, sight reading and mental focus in a fun and competitive way! Here is how to implement it in your own studio or music camp: The players are seated around a circle of cards upon which are written rhythms of a similar meter. The seating are ranked: seat number 1 is the best spot to be in and is called the Starter's seat (because that one starts each new round) and to his left, 2 (next in line to be the Starter) and on down around the circle to "the bottom of the totem pole," the person who sits directly to the right of the Starter.
The Starter and starts by counting and clapping his own rhythm then any other player's rhythm. That player must then count and clap his own rhythm without missing a beat then counts and claps another person's rhythm of his choice. And so on.
If anyone misses a count or a rhythm, he goes to the bottom of the totem pole and the ones below his former spot move up to fill the empty space.
The point of the game is to maintain your spot in the starter's chair for five turns straight, after which everyone moves to the right one chair in order to allow for a fresh rotation. This way no advanced players are allowed to permanently dominate the game to the disadvantage of younger players. Teachers make good referees as well as participants. (It's particularly hilarious if the teacher spaces out...) Metronomes make good standards and tempo setters. Before actually playing the first round, it's good for the teacher to demonstrate each rhythm around the circle, then have each student demonstrate their knowledge of each rhythm.
Don't be surprised if at first students struggle keeping the beat during the game: it's a lot to manage at first so give them a comfortable tempo and lots of warm up time. After a while they get more comfortable and can police themselves like the students in the video. The game is a variation of "fruit basket," another call-and-response circle game
The Starter and starts by counting and clapping his own rhythm then any other player's rhythm. That player must then count and clap his own rhythm without missing a beat then counts and claps another person's rhythm of his choice. And so on.
If anyone misses a count or a rhythm, he goes to the bottom of the totem pole and the ones below his former spot move up to fill the empty space.
The point of the game is to maintain your spot in the starter's chair for five turns straight, after which everyone moves to the right one chair in order to allow for a fresh rotation. This way no advanced players are allowed to permanently dominate the game to the disadvantage of younger players. Teachers make good referees as well as participants. (It's particularly hilarious if the teacher spaces out...) Metronomes make good standards and tempo setters. Before actually playing the first round, it's good for the teacher to demonstrate each rhythm around the circle, then have each student demonstrate their knowledge of each rhythm.
Don't be surprised if at first students struggle keeping the beat during the game: it's a lot to manage at first so give them a comfortable tempo and lots of warm up time. After a while they get more comfortable and can police themselves like the students in the video. The game is a variation of "fruit basket," another call-and-response circle game
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