Catch The Rhythm

This fiery Latin tune will get your blood pumping, not to mention your feet! While the tempo and the rhythms may keep your singers on their toes (so to speak), the fact that the song is in unison, except for the optional divisis at the end, makes it accessible for just about any age group.

Whether you decide to program this as part of a general concert or performance, or just keep it all to yourselves as a super fun classroom event, there are a few ways you might want to spice it up. The most obvious is with the addition of percussion. Add your own shakers, cowbells, tambourines, hand drums, etc. Obviously, the more you add, the thicker the sound will be, so keep the rhythms simple. In fact, make it a lesson to have students write their own rhythms to play. Suggest they alter their patterns for various sections for more interest and a bit of a challenge. For example, at measure 19, the style becomes more connected. At measure 33, it changes yet again. This would also be a good opportunity to talk about and/or reinforce form.

Another way to add excitement to your performance is with movement. You could add a few simple steps for some or all of the tune. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Catch - put hands out as if catching something
• Hear - put hands to ears to listen
• Feel - wrap arms around torso in a hug
• Dance - tap foot on floor
• (repeat)

For the section at bar 19, sway side to side once per measure. At 33, continue the sway but add a shoulder bounce, two per bar. (Remember this is in cut-time, so there are two beats per bar.)

Feel free to add to or change any of this as it suits you. Also consider asking students to help with movement suggestions. If you're lucky enough to have talented dancers in your midst, this would be a great tune in which to feature them. Have them front and center doing their thing while the rest of your singers stand behind them, moving or not as you prefer.

If you like the idea of visual enhancement but are not comfortable with dancing, just add the claps. (And occasional stomp.) These are indicated on the music. Again, use as they are or change them so they work for your students.

We definitely recommend using the Performance/Accompaniment recording for this one. You can't imitate the sound of the cookin' jazz ensemble on piano alone!