Body Percussion Workshop
CONTENT
This workshop is appropriate for any population, including dance majors, general student populations, and retirement communities.
Body Percussion is simply using the body and floor to create enjoyable rhythmic phrases.
Because some sounds are high, some low, and some medium, the music will have a melodic aspect as well, similar to the spoken word engagingly delivered.
Many such traditions have existed for centuries. Some of the best known are the American Step Dance tradition, often associated with Black fraternities and sororities, Irish Step Dance, the long running off broadway show STOMP, South African boot dances and Kathak Dance from India.
Though we’ll draw on all these traditions indirectly, our emphasis will be on making original work that will always involve some physical contact, usually hand to hand, with a partner or group of partners.
Rhythmic music generally lays on the twin foundations of numbers and speech. To combine the two, we will make extensive use of the Indian rhythmic solfège system known as SOLKATTU. In this system, sets of syllables are used to name rhythmic groupings:
2: TA KE. (8th notes).
3: TA KE NA. (8th note triplets)
4: TA KE DI MA. (16th notes).
(Don’t worry if these terms mean nothing to you.)
The class will also learn “shape notation”, which is a simple and intuitively obvious method of writing these patterns down and memorizing them.
THE SPACE
ROOM: an open uncarpeted room such as a dance studio, suitable for footwear.
A black board, white board or easel with large sheets of paper, each with appropriate writing tools. A room where noise can take place without disturbing others, and at the same time, a room free of excessively loud music or other sounds filtering in.
Participants should wear loose comfortable clothing and shoes that are good for stamping. Ideal footwear will have a flat sole, such as military style boots or Converse sneakers, with a clean sole. Regular running shoes are OK. Loose sandals and flip flops are not. Footwear has to fit snugly.
A WORKSHOP SEQUENCE IN DETAIL
STANDING CIRCLE Self introductions to neighbors
We will Rock you- the still famous classic Queen tune. Verses will be handed out. Stamping, clapping and singing.
2. Intro to Solkattu. TA -KE, TA-KI-NA, TA-KA-DI-MA. Extensive use of vocal trades, encouraging breath and projection.
3. TWO STANDING LINES, 6 feet apart: TA KA DI MA trade sequence: taught by instructor, this sequence involves increasingly quick vocal trades between the two groups, presented as a catchy rhythmic spoken phrase. Working in trades encourages projection, gives participants a chance to breath, and creates friendly competition between the groups.
4. The same sequence, but with the two lines close enough to have hand contact with the opposing partner, two hands striking two hands, something like the congratulatory gesture common among athletes.
5. STANDING CIRCLE with participants shuffled into new places with new neighbors. Another round of introductions.
Work with TA KI NA (triplets). Call and response between instructor and class members. Often these will involve familiar place names, each of which has three syllables with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable. This is designed to teach class members that musical phrasing often does not start right on a beat, but rather leads toward them. Examples: Chicago Atlanta/ New Brunswick New Jersey/ Columbus Ohio/ Hawaii Nevada/ Montana Wyoming, etc
6. Class gathers around black board or other surface. Introduction to shape notation.
2s: Vertical line. 3s: Triangle. 4s: Rectangle.
7. Using the shapes to draw odd meters. For example, 7 can be 2+2+3 or 3+2+2.
A very common rhythm around the world is 3+3+2 (8), felt as a 4 beat pattern. In other words the system can also be applied to understanding the flavor of any rhythm, standard or odd.
8: GROUP CREATIVE PROJECT:
A: Working in groups of 4 , class members will make up their own original body percussion pieces. Instructor will provide detailed instructions, with each group making pieces of 30 seconds to 1 minute, depending on skill levels of members. Each group will use the same rhythms but will create their own sounds and movements.
B: Rehearsal time will be provided. Groups can go to other rooms nearby if available.
C: The group re-convenes. First all groups practice at once, and then show each other their pieces one by one.
9: CLOSING COMMENTS as appropriate, including talking about rhythm as a way of life, using it as a tool to connect us to other people and to nature. Both are critically important and in short supply in today’s world.
