Are you looking for fun, fast-paced rhythm review activities that keep students engaged while also assessing rhythm reading or aural skills? How about one that can be used in both classroom settings, as well as private lessons? The poison rhythm game is all these things, for a refreshing change from sight-clapping rhythms!
Keep reading to learn how to play a poison rhythm game in your music class! This could just be your class’ new favorite game!
What will students practice in this rhythm game?
- Aural training (you may play this game simply by clapping a rhythm and telling students it is ‘poison’. Continue to clap rhythms for students to echo back, thus practicing aural skills. After a number of other rhythms, clap the ‘poison’ rhythm. If students clap the ‘poison’ rhythm, they are out.
- Non-music settings as a brain break – play as above, clapping simple patterns for students to echo.
- Rhythm reading – provide students with notated rhythms for them to clap or play (see below for instructions).
- Play rhythm instruments instead of clapping.
What will you need to play the poison rhythm game?
For the aural skills game, you will need nothing but your hands to clap!
For the rhythm reading version (my preferred option!) you will need:
- slides or flashcards with various four-beat rhythm patterns (you can create your own, use flashcards you may already have, or purchase my premade, zero-prep games here).
- (optional) Rhythm instruments
How to play ‘poison rhythm’
- Decide what you will review (What rhythms will you review? Will students clap, or use rhythm instruments?)
- Set the expectations for students, and review the rules.
- If playing in a classroom, have students stand up. Students who are out will sit down. (In a private lesson this is unnecessary, as once the student is out the game will end).
- Show students one 4-beat rhythm. Clap/play it, and have students repeat it a few times. This is the ‘poison rhythm. If it appears again, any student who claps it is out.
- Continue to show students new 4-beat rhythms. You may either: clap/play the rhythm yourself and have students respond by clapping it, OR count the students in and then clap/play the measure together. The second method lets you assess students’ reading, and gives the teacher a chance to be ‘out’ as well, which kids find fun. However, I’d suggest playing it the first way (teacher claps/students echo) first, as it is an easier introduction to the activity and rhythms.
- After showing a number of different 4-beat rhythms, show the students the poison rhythm again. Anyone who claps/plays it is out and must sit down
- Continue on with new 4-beat rhythms, before showing the poison rhythm again. Anyone who claps the poison rhythm joins the students sitting down.
- Continue in this manner until you have shown the poison rhythm 3-5 times, or you have reached the end of your available time. Any students still standing up have won!
- This game works best when you keep it moving at quite a fast pace, without pausing between rhythms. The game itself should be fast, energetic, and fun, with students who are out not sitting for too long before joining back in a new game..
- Feel free to repeat the game with a new ‘poison rhythm’ and have those who were ‘out’ join back in.
Will you try playing a poison rhythm game with your music students? I’d love to hear how it goes!
If you’d like premade, no-prep, poison rhythm games (available in multiple rhythm levels) click here to purchase them now.
4 Responses