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What is Body Percussion?

Clap Snap Tap Rhythm Motor Planning and Coordination Activity

What is body percussion? Body percussion is using different parts of the body to make music.  Have you ever stopped to think how may sounds you can make with your body?  You can clap, snap, tap, stomp, click and more.  

Why Is Body Percussion a Wonderful Activity for Kids?

Research indicates that rhythm and movement interventions have the potential to support the development of self-regulation skills for preschoolers. Making sounds and music with our bodies may seem simple but it is actually very complex.  Creating and following a rhythm with body percussion requires:

  • body awareness
  • proprioception
  • motor planning
  • motor timing
  • rhythm
  • coordination

Examples of Body Percussion

There are many examples of body percussion.  Here are 10 actions to that children can practice making sounds with their bodies:

  1. clapping hands together
  2. snapping fingers
  3. tapping fingers on table
  4. slapping knees
  5. tapping top of head
  6. stomping feet
  7. rubbing hands together
  8. popping air filled cheeks
  9. tapping two fingers on palm of hand
  10. rubbing hands on floor.

Add Patterns and Rhythm

Once the children have practiced these sounds try mixing it up to follow a two step pattern.  For example try –

Clap hands – slap knees – clap hands – slap knees – clap hands – slap knees….

Try adding a rhythm.  

Clap 2x – stomp feet 3x – clap 2x – stomp feet 3x…

Make it more difficult by trying a three step pattern.

Clap hands – tap top of head – snap fingers – clap hands – tap top of head – snap fingers…

Encourage the children to maintain a rhythm as they complete the body sounds.  This is a great brain break or indoor recess activity that requires no equipment and concentration.

Ways to Practice Rhythm

Children need practice time to learn rhythm which is essential for higher level motor skills such as skipping or jumping rope.  Here are some resources that can help children practice motor timing, motor planning and rhythm.

The Move Like Me download includes action poses for children to practice motor planning, crossing midline, body awareness, timing, rhythm, coordination and physical activity.  This is a NO PREP activity.  Simply print and play or project onto the whiteboard or tablet.  There are 4 poses per page ranging from easy to hard.

Rhythmic Motion is a collection of single and double motion cards to follow using your hands, feet or ribbon sticks.  Practice following directional cues, reinforce positional words (right, left, across, up, down, etc) and move to the beat. Great activity for a telehealth session – you can share your screen and the child can follow the motions.

Video Example of Rhythmic Timing with a Group

Here is a video of a group performing it together.  One child is establishing the pattern and the others follow. They added in additional locomotor skills and ball skills.

Reference:  Williams, K. E., & Berthelsen, D. (2019). Implementation of a rhythm and movement intervention to support self-regulation skills of preschool-aged children in disadvantaged communities. Psychology of Music, 0305735619861433. You can read more here.

What is body percussion? Body percussion is using different parts of the body to make music.  Have you ever stopped to think how may sounds you can make with your body?  You can clap, snap, tap, stomp, click and more.