Source: Cyberchase: "The Poddleville Case"
Funding for the VITAL/Ready to Teach collection was secured through the United States Department of Education under the Ready to Teach Program.
Crack the Code
(Video)
In this video segment from Cyberchase, the performers from the musical STOMP!, a show that features drumming and dancing, demonstrate how they use patterns to create inventive and exciting rhythmic melodies.
Download and ShareHere are some Frame, Focus and Follow-up suggestions for using this video in a math lesson.
What is Frame, Focus and Follow-up?
Frame: A pattern can be something that you see, but can it also be something that you hear? Give some examples of patterns that you might hear. Would you be able to write down or record these patterns in some way? How might you do it?
Focus: As you watch this video segment, you’ll see Kareem talk to some of the cast members of STOMP! about rhythm and patterns. Listen to how the performers use numbers in their performances.
Follow Up: Look at one of the routines from STOMP! What were the elements of the rhythmic pattern in that routine? How can you change a clapping pattern? What elements of the pattern could be manipulated? Use a paper and pencil to record a rhythm pattern that you make up. Give the paper to a classmate, and see if they can demonstrate the clapping pattern based on your pattern.
KAREEM: Patterns, they are all around us. A pattern is a sequence that repeats. What's the pattern here? There are lots of different kinds of patterns. A pattern can be something that you hear. Patterns can turn noise into music. With seven more brooms you would have cleaner streets, but you would also have STOMP. Stomp is a show that’s hard to describe. The performers are drummers who dance and dancers who drum. They create amazing patterns of sound and motions with some stuff you can find around the house. Patterns are what make music musical. When patterns of sound repeat over time, they create a rhythm. Oh, man, you guys are great. How do you remember all that stuff?
PERFORMER 1: Well, while counting out a beat in my head, I play a rhythm along with it. So it's one 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 –and 1, 2, 3, 4.
PERFORMER 2: And so I'm counting the same beat in my head, but my rhythm has a different pattern. 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4.
PERFORMER 3: And what makes rhythm patterns fun is after repeating a pattern like --–you can change it –and it still fits in. Want to try?
KAREEM: Sure.
PERFORMER 3: All right, why don’t we do something with our hands? Okay, Kareem, why don't you guys start it by doing a 1, 2, 3, 4 pattern over and over.
KAREEM: Now, if I can do it, I know you can. So put your hands together and jam.
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