Grab some rhythm sticks (or 2 wooden spoons, or 2 blocks, etc) and let’s learn about beat and rhythm with Ms. Elizabeth and Forte the Lion!

Let’s explore the many ways we can play with one of our favorite instruments for kids: rhythm sticks.

This is The Way We Tap Our Sticks

This is the way we tap our sticks, tap our sticks, tap our sticks,

This is the way we tap our sticks: tap tap tap.

This is the way we rub our sticks: rub rub rub.

This is the way we hammer our sticks, hammer, hammer, hammer.

This is the way we roll our sticks, roll our sticks, roll our sticks.

Let’s practice a steady beat with 3 classical pieces.

Can you find the beat and tap along?

We listened to excerpts from the following pieces:

1. Mozart:Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat, K. 495 - K. 495 performed by Jeffrey Bryant (Horn) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Ensemble)

2. Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: Spring in E major, RV 269 / Op. 8 No. 1 performed by Ensemble Orchestral de Paris

3. Handel: Water Music Suite No. 2 in D, HWV 349 - HWV 349 performed by Orchestre Symphonique de Radio-Télé-Luxembourg

Classical.com has licensed the classical music for us to use on this podcast.

Zip and Zap. This is a fun and silly action song. The actions are easy to pick up on and a fun way to use your imagination with your rhythm sticks. Most kids music is written in major keys, and this one is in a minor key, which is great for developing kids ears and listening abilities.

Hello Zip! Hello Zap! Zip and Zap go tap tap tap.

Goodbye Zip! Goodbye Zap! Zip and Zap behind the back.

Zip goes high, Zap goes high, Zip and Zap can touch the sky!

Zip goes low, Zap goes low, Zip and Zap can touch my toes.

Zip to the side, Zap to the side Zip and Zap can reach so wide.

Zip comes back, Zap comes back Zip and Zap go tap tap tap

Tap tap tap, Tap tap tap, Tap tap tap Tap tap tap tap

Tap tap tap, Tap tap tap, Tap tap tap Tap tap tap tap

If you’d like to watch a video of Zip and Zap, check out this blog post: https://www.clapforclassics.com/blog/zipandzap

The last activity but one of our favorites is a Beat vs. Rhythm challenge. We use the well known nursery rhyme, “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” to practice! Will you give it a try?

To watch a rhythm stick mini music class to get even more practice with steady beat check this out: https://www.clapforclassics.com/blog/rhythmsticks

We would love to hear from your kids! Leave Forte a joke, or just call in and say hi and tell us where you’re from: www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics

We would love to feature you on the podcast! If you’d like to help your little ones develop an appreciation for classical music, make musical memories with your family, enjoy flexibility of an at-home program, and learn right alongside your kiddos, come join us in our All Access Membership. Check out details and get signed up at www.clapforclassics.com/join