Why Warm-Ups and Practice Activities?
Rhythms are enjoyable and powerful. Compared to lots of other music styles, Samba-Fusion is also much easier to learn. However, everyone benefits from a learning environment at a practice that is varied, interesting, and caters to all abilities and experience.
Sometimes a great practice can mean an open jam and a solid wall of noise for 2 hours, but integrating variety can have a lot of benefits:
- Giving everyone a chance to warm up slowly
- Providing new players an easier stepping stone into XR Rhythms
- Allowing different people to hold space during the practice
- Encouraging the whole band to play a variety of sounds and instruments
The exercises described below are examples that we know work to give you some advice and inspiration. Don’t be afraid to try your own ideas out and DEFINITELY don’t be afraid to type ‘Activities for a Music Lesson in School’ into your search engine of choice. The most effective practice sessions are adapted to fit the band and these activities can be played anywhere in a practice. Have fun and keep it varied and interesting.
If you’ve got suggestions, drop us an email at info@xrrhythms.uk and we can update this post to include more.
Dynamic Chaos Break
What?
Whistler calls in Chaos Break (shaking hands over head) and uses body to direct the sound of the band.
Useful For
- Teaching new people how their instrument sounds and how to follow a whistler
- New or aspiring whistlers to lead a low-pressure activity
Variations
- Whole body up high or closer to the ground to show loud and quiet
- Hands raised to certain parts of the band to direct volume of certain people or instruments
- Call in single hits
Godzilla
What?
Whistler stomps around like Godzilla with the band playing a single hit on their footsteps. Works best with a simple snare line (e.g. Funk) in the background to keep time. Failing that, a single low surdo playing a regular beat also works.
Useful For
- Teaching new people how to follow a whistler and keep time
- New or aspiring whistlers to lead a low-pressure activity
- If you’re practicing or playing in public, an audience loves this
Variations
- Assign different instrument groups to different body parts (e.g. backpack to the right leg, drums to the left)
- Use it to come in and out of a Dynamic Chaos Break
- This can also be done at any stationary demo
Step-in-Time
What?
Band steps side to side together and in time to a beat. A single drum can be used to help keep time.
Useful For
- Improving ability to keep in time and the ‘rhythm-feel’ of the band
- Deep diving into a single tune
Variations
- Clap a simple rhythm
- Include different rhythms for different groups, such as the high and low surdo parts of a tune
Rhythm Master
What?
Stand in a circle. One person, the Rhythm Master, starts playing a simple rhythm. The rest of the band listens to this rhythm and begins to play along. The Rhythm Master then changes the rhythm and everyone must follow.
Useful For
- Improving ability to listen to different instruments and other band members
- Allowing a mixture of people to hold space, not just a whistler
- Developing rhythm feel
Variations
- Change who the Rhythm Master is often
- Have a Rhythm Master for drums and backpack, or each instrument group
- Rhythm Master starts playing their part of a tune and everyone joins in with their parts instead of being whistled in
Rhythm Pass
What?
Stand in a circle. One person plays a simple rhythm once. For example, a clave or four hits, although the rhythm doesn’t need to be an official break. The person to their left copies and repeats it once, passing it on.
Useful For
- Recognising and reproducing sounds
- Swapping instruments to give people a chance to play something new
- New people to be involved without prior knowledge
- Developing a feel for rhythm
Variations
- Two rhythms at once
- Each new person adds 4 beats to the original rhythm, creating an ever-growing pattern
- When passed, the new person plays the rhythm, then plays their own to be passed
Break Recap
What?
Stand in a circle. Each person takes it in turn to show the hand sign for one break and count it in for the group. To create a relaxed environment, emphasise that people can skip their go, show a hand sign that’s already been shown, or get an experienced whistler to count their sign in for them.
Useful For
- Recapping breaks
- Involving everyone in the practice instead of totally whistler-led
- Letting the band pick their level, with beginners able to choose things they know and advanced players introducing variety
Variations
- Control the complexity by limiting the activity to basic breaks only or allowing complex or tune-specific breaks
- Use snares to keep a continuous beat
- Do this whilst playing a tune
Instrument Cycle
What?
Lay instruments in a circle in the middle. You will need at least one more instrument than people. Begin playing a recurring pattern, break, or tune. Once you’re going, people begin to swap instruments, picking up an instrument whenever it becomes free.
Useful For
- Involving beginners and letting people try new instruments
- Revising long, recurring breaks such as Knock at the Door, Conga, or Squirrel Break 3
Variations
- Can be played as a version of Rhythm Master
- Choose two breaks (e.g. Conga and Little Cat) and have people change the rhythm they’re playing every time they change instrument