Tag: dalcroze-practice

Measures of 5 are most often broken up into groups of 3’s and 2’s. (The classic model is Brubeck’s “Take Five”.) In this activity, I play with length and placement of those groupings. The simplest way to interact with the recording here would simply be to step on 1. Better yet, move the entire length of the measure taking full advantage of the space around you (up, down, sides, diagonals, etc.)

You’ll hear me call out numbers. For a further challenge, as you step on 1 acknowledge the number I call (2, 3, 4 or 5) with a hand clap, a tap on a drum, or maybe even a toss of a scarf. Want more fun? Use a balloon. 🙂 If using the scarf, aim to catch it on the next downbeat. (This might take some practice for some of the numbers.)

Here’s the recording:

Have fun!

I am playing in a measure of 2 or a duple meter. Here we play with beats of 2, 3 and 4 divisions. I start with 3, which I am playing with a swing feel on the recording. At “hip,” I take a way a division (e.g. 3 divisions becomes 2), at “hop,” I add one (e.g. 3 divisions becomes 4). “Return” signals a change back to 3. It could be notated in 6/8 with a dotted quarter beat for “3”; 2/4 with a quarter note beat for “2”, and 2/2 with a half note beat (and eight note subdivision) for “4”. The eighth note is kept at a constant tempo–or at least that is my intention! This is known as a “quick reaction” game in Dalcroze parlance. In this case, the signal is verbal (they can also be visual, musical or tactile).

Follow along by stepping the beat and clapping the division. For more fun, try bouncing and catching a ball on the beat. Bounce from one hand and catch to the other, alternating hands each time. It becomes a study in the relationship between time, space and energy.