Tutorial video
I love the Cup Song and have used it ever since it first came out in the movie Pitch Perfect. It’s fantastic for many different musical concepts.
I use these cups from IKEA.
The above video shows you how to do the cup song. I teach the following sequence;
- Clap Clap
- Tap Tap Tap (on table or on top of cup)
- Clap Lift Down
- Clap Twist Tap (on palm) Tip (on table)
- Change, Hand, cup
Once the children know the sequence you can then move onto different things;
Start with conducting – coming in at the right time
- Group 1 starts and plays it twice
- Group 2 joins in
- Group 3 joins in after 4 sequences
- Play together 4 times
- Group 1 stops
- Group 2 stops after 2 more
- Group 3 stops
This can also be done with each child; moving around the class (Make sure children are very confident so they can join in easily!)
Next move onto tempo – can we do it quickly, slowly.
Dynamics – loud and soft
Senior classes; can sing the song too.
This lesson can then form the basis for composition lesson where children can use the cups to make a rhythm to go with a song of their choice.
The cup song is also fantastic for children with poor hand eye co-ordination.
