Neighborhood Jam Session

Get together with your family and friends and jam! Use the items suggested below or create your parade drum set to share with everyone...

Ready!
Find a few of these:

• Old mugs
• Plastic tubs
• Plastic carryout containers
• Pots or pans
• Chopsticks, 1 pair for each person

Set!
Give each person a pair of chopsticks and something to tap on.

Have one person be the "base beat".

Go!
The "base beat" person counts 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4,...and taps on her or his instrument once for each number she or he says.

The next person tries to add to the rhythm. Maybe she or he could tap twice for every one of the "base beat's" taps. Start whenever the "base beat" calls out a '1'.

Likewise for the next person. Keep it up until everyone has joined in.

Experiment! Try it with two "base beats". Try different speeds: slow it down or speed it up. Have someone try to get in 3 taps for every one of the base beats.

Jam with these musical instruments you can make at home:

• PVC Flute
• Flimsy Box Fiddle
• Deep Base Fiddle
• Rainbow Piano
• Parade Drum Set

© The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 1999