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Teaching artist Groovy Nate demonstrates how to create a rhythmic pattern using different names, and how to experiment with various vocal tones, pitches, and expressions to go with this rhythm.

Vocabulary You Will Learn:

• Rhythmic pattern—A sequence of musical notes and rests.

Materials You Will Need:

• Nothing—just yourself!

How to Create a Rhythmic Pattern Using Your Name

1. First, you need to establish a steady beat with your body. While sitting, hit your hands on your lap repeatedly to create this beat.
2. Now, try creating different rhythmic patterns to go with this beat using the name “John.” Start by saying “John” once each time you hit your lap. Then, you can experiment with changing the rhythm. You can say “John” twice each time you hit your lap, or only every other time, or you can vary and mix it up as you go! (To see Groovy Nate demonstrate this, scroll to around 2:50 in the video.)
3. Next, you’re going to experiment using different tones and expressions with your voice. As you hit the steady beat and say “John,” you can try using a high-pitched voice; a low, deep voice; or a silly voice. Be creative!

4. Now, it’s time to make things a little more challenging. Instead of using the one-syllable name “John,” try the four-syllable name “Giovanna.” Create a steady beat on your lap, and first try saying two syllables per beat (so that it takes two beats to say the entire name). You can say the name in any kind of voice, with any kind of expression, that you like! (To see Groovy Nate demonstrate this, scroll to around 5:15 in the video.)
5. Finally, it’s time to create a rhythmic pattern using your own name. Create a steady beat on your lap, and then experiment with creating different rhythms with your own name, using any tone, pitch, or expression that you like!

In this video, Groovy Nate teaches us how to create different rhythmic patterns using our own names, and how to experiment with different vocal tones, pitches, and expressions as we create our rhythms. If you want to go even further, think about these questions: 

• At the end of the video, Groovy Nate suggests experimenting with using different parts of the body to create your rhythm. How does the sound of your rhythm change if you stomp your feet instead of drum on your lap? What about if you drum your fingers on your cheeks, or hit your chest, or snap your fingers?
• You could also introduce objects to create your rhythm. You could play the spoons, tap on a table with pencils, or drum your hands on a box. How does bringing objects into the rhythm change the way it sounds and feels?
• In the video, Groovy Nate shows us how to experiment with different vocal pitches and tones as we say our names to the beat. Did you find yourself changing the rhythm as you changed your tone? For example, did you want to speak faster when you used a high-pitched voice? Or slower when you used a deep, booming voice? What about when you used a silly voice?
• Where do you see, or hear, rhythmic patterns in your everyday life? Listen closely as you go about your day. What about the ticking of the clock? The way the Metro moves along the track? The way your neighbor’s dog barks? Rhythmic patterns can be found everywhere!

Accessibility

Don’t forget that you can turn on “Closed Captioning” to view the YouTube video with English captions.

More about the Teaching Artist

Elnathan Starnes (he/him) is a teaching artist and children’s entertainer under the name of Groovy Nate®. Groovy Nate creates fun and educational workshops and shows using a range of musical instruments, interactive movement, and puppet skits—à la Sesame Street meets Parliament/Funkadelic. His programs encourage children and adults to move, sing, and play creatively with one another, while exposing them to various genres of music. To learn more about Elnathan Starnes, visit his website: .

Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning

Eric Friedman 
Director, Digital Learning

Kenny Neal 
Manager, Digital Education Resources

Tiffany A. Bryant 
Manager, Operations and Audience Engagement

JoDee Scissors 
Content Specialist, Digital Learning

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Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;

Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..

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