Beep Beep

School Radio > Music > Join in with Music

A fast and fun piece about traffic starting, moving and stopping featuring body percussion, mouth sounds and kazoos.

The video

Beep Beep

A fast and fun join-in piece about traffic starting, moving and stopping. It features body percussion, mouth sounds and kazoos. Melody instruments, percussion and chord instruments can join in too.

Each performer decides to represent a particular type of vehicle - eg bike, car, van, bus or lorry. They then devise two or three typical sounds to perform on their journey - eg bell, high engine, hooter, low engine, etc - using a suitable instrument or way of making sound.

The main tune for moving about is built around a rhythm pattern that everyone can try first as body percussion together. It can be played as two claps, then alternate knee slaps, going clap, clap, right, left, right, left, right. On hand drums, and then woodblocks, it suggests the noisy engine sounds in traffic.

The plan is:

• Traffic lights 1. Xylophones play 6 low Gs, then 6 high Gs. Everyone else can join in with low and high ‘beeps’.
• On the move 1 (bikes and cars). Voices scat sing (jazzy nonsense syllables - doo, doo, etc) along with keyboard tune up and down shapes on screen, with a few note names to help; triangles and shakers keep a steady beat; hand drums and body percussion play ‘engine patterns’ (see above).
• Traffic lights 2. Xylophones play 6 low As, then 6 high As. Everyone else can join in with low and high ‘beeps’.
• On the move 2 (buses and lorries). Voices and kazoos hum along with saxophone tune ups and down shapes on screen. Cowbells and scrapers keep a steady beat; woodblocks and body percussion play ‘engine patterns’ (see above).
• Traffic lights 3, like Traffic lights 1.
• On the move 3, like On the move 1.
• Traffic lights 4, like Traffic lights 2.
• On the move 4, like Traffic lights 2.
• Traffic lights 5, like Traffic lights 1.
• On the move 5 (all traffic). Everyone performs together.
• Traffic lights 6, like Traffic lights 1, with 6 extra low Gs. Then all stop!

Practise a few times to make sure everyone stops together.

As a follow-up activity you could create a dance sequence to go with your music performance.

The piece will also be a useful starting point for exploring and discussing aspects of road safety, travelling to school, public transport, travelling on holiday, pollution and sustainable transport decisions generally.

Resources

School Radio > Music > Join in with Music