This is the body percussion version of the rhythm play-along I created over the summer.

This summer, I have been getting into Coldplay’s music. I am not sure why I am so late to join on this bandwagon, but their music has evolved throughout the almost three decades that they have been making music and I am enjoying listening to their progression.

I also enjoyed seeing their recent concert in Glastonbury, where Michael J Fox returned to the stage to play along with them, as he did back in 2016 at Metlife Stadium, on the song “Fix You.” In 2016, Michael played “Johnny Be Good” on stage with them. Chris Mertin has stated that watching Michael play that song in Back To The Future inspired them to become a band. In the 2024 concert, Martin stated to the crowd, “The main reason we’re in a band is because of watching Back to the Future,”… “So thank you to our hero forever and one of the most amazing people on Earth, Mr. Michael J. Fox.”

Finally, in 2019, they stopped touring until they could tour with less of a carbon footprint. Chris Martin mentioned that the band would delay touring until they could guarantee that their concerts are environmentally friendly. This decision resulted in promoting the record through small charity events and a show at the Amman Citadel in Jordan, streamed on YouTube. In 2022, they resumed touring and reportedly reduced their carbon footprint by 59% from their previous tours.

Percussion Rhythm Patterns and Concepts

The body percussion/rhythms included in the play-along are:

• Quarter Note - Crotchet and rest - tap knees or clap hands

• Eighth Note - Quaver - clap hands

• Half Note - Minim and rest - step slide

• Whole Note - Semibreve and rest - wave hands in the air for four counts

• Accents

• Crescendo/descrescendo

• Dynamics

The notation images were found at Midnight Music’s Big Free Notation Library found here: https://midnightmusic.com/2013/06/the-big-free-music-notation-image-library/

Manipulatives

There is a powerpoint or Google Slideshow to this play-along (as well as the rhythm play-along) that includes fun facts about Coldplay and the slides with the rhythm patterns that can be found here: https://buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech/extras

Use this as retrieval practice for reading and performing rhythms, as a fun play-along to introduce a new concept, to welcome a new school year, or to celebrate that you all made it through a full month of school.

Rhythm Play-Along: https://youtu.be/-G8zUlt8pYI

Coming Soon