Poison Rhythm
The one that started it all!
Poison Rhythm is a fantastic way to get students engaged with rhythm practice. The premise is simple. Students are presented with a series of rhythm patterns that they must clap or play along to with instruments. However, there is one pattern that students must not clap when they see it. If a student claps it, they are out. However, you can make and adjust the rules to fit your students. The first time I show them a poison rhythm video, I don’t do “outs”, as I want the students to feel comfortable the first time.
Lesson Ideas
Rhythm Reading Warm-Up
Use a Poison Rhythm video as a quick beginning-of-class rhythm warm-up. Before starting, review the rhythms that appear in the video and practice saying them with rhythm syllables, counting, or neutral syllables like “ta” and “ti-ti.” Then play the video and challenge students to read every rhythm except the poison rhythm.
Perform the Rhythms in Different Ways
Instead of only clapping, have students perform the rhythms using body percussion: pat, stomp, snap, tap shoulders, or alternate hands. You can also assign different rhythm values to different body percussion sounds, such as quarter notes on pats and eighth notes on claps. You can also have students perform the rhythms on instruments.
Teacher performs rhythms on an instrument
Instead of watching the video, the teacher performs various rhythms on an instrument such as drum or temple block and the students respond. This requires them to listen of the rhythm rather than visually identify it.
Use the slideshow to extend the activity or create your own poison rhythm
The slideshow linked below offers all the same rhythms that the video shows but in a picture format. It also allows you to create your own rhythms, and you can even create a poison rhythm if you would like.
Recommended Grades: K–3, or 1–4 depending on complexity
Skills Practiced: steady beat, rhythm reading, audiation, active listening, impulse control, body percussion, ensemble focus
Materials Needed: none, or optional rhythm sticks/drums