Are you looking for an engaging and adaptable music therapy activity for your teenage groups? As a music therapy content creator at payoffsong.com, I’m excited to share one of my go-to strategies that consistently gets teens involved and moving: using the timeless tune “Shake Rattle And Roll Song.” While it might not be a current pop hit, this classic rock and roll track possesses an infectious groove that naturally encourages movement and participation, making it perfect for music therapy sessions.
Unleashing Musical Engagement with “Shake Rattle and Roll”
This activity is designed to be flexible and cater to various skill levels within a group. Here’s how to set it up to maximize engagement and therapeutic benefits:
Instrumentation and Group Division:
Begin by dividing your teen group into three distinct sections. Each group will be responsible for a specific percussive sound, aligning with the song’s title:
- Shakers: Equip this group with bells to create the “shake” sound.
- Rattlers: Provide maracas to the second group for the “rattle” element.
- Rollers: The final group will use drums to produce the “roll” sound.
When introducing the activity, I find that performing “Shake Rattle and Roll song” on the keyboard, using either a boogie-woogie or rock beat, really helps to capture the authentic feel of the music and get the teens energized.
Step-by-Step Activity Guide:
To structure the activity, follow these steps to progressively build complexity and engagement:
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Verse 1: Full Ensemble Introduction: Start by instructing all three groups to play their instruments together as you sing the first verse of “Shake Rattle and Roll song.” This allows everyone to get comfortable with the rhythm and the song.
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Chorus 1: Isolated Instrument Focus: For the first chorus, introduce a call-and-response dynamic with instrument isolation. Modify the lyrics to clearly direct each group:
- “I said shake, shake, shake. I said shake, shake, shake” (Only the bells/’shakers’ play).
- “I said rattle, rattle, rattle. I said rattle, rattle, rattle” (Only the maracas/’rattlers’ play).
- “I said roll, roll, roll. I said roll, roll, roll” (Only the drums/’rollers’ play).
This segment focuses on isolating sounds and following specific instructions, enhancing auditory attention.
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Verse 2: Return to Full Ensemble: Reintegrate all instruments for the second verse, having the entire group play together again. This reinforces the initial group dynamic and prepares them for the next challenge.
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Chorus 2: Combined Instrument Challenge: In the second chorus, sing the original lyrics of “Shake Rattle and Roll song” as written, but maintain the instrument assignments.
- “I said shake (bells play), rattle (maracas play), and roll (drums) “I said shake (bells play), rattle (maracas play), and roll (drums), etc.”*
This requires the teens to remember their assigned instrument and play only when their specific sound is called out within the original song lyrics. This step significantly boosts auditory processing and selective attention.
Adapting for Success and Therapeutic Benefits
Initially, you might need to decrease the tempo of “Shake Rattle and Roll song” to ensure everyone can keep up with the changes, especially during the combined chorus. However, gradually increasing the tempo adds excitement and challenge as the group becomes more proficient.
This “Shake Rattle and Roll song” activity effectively targets several key therapeutic goals:
- Auditory Perception: Teens develop their ability to discern and respond to different musical cues and instructions.
- Attention Skills: The activity demands focused attention to both the lyrics and instrument cues, improving concentration and selective attention.
- Group Cohesion: Playing together as an ensemble promotes teamwork and a sense of shared musical experience.
- Gross Motor Skills: Playing percussion instruments naturally encourages movement and physical engagement.
While “Shake Rattle and Roll song” might predate the current top 40 charts, its rhythmic energy and familiar structure make it an excellent tool for introducing teens to different musical eras and genres within a therapeutic setting. It proves that classic songs can be just as engaging and beneficial as contemporary hits when adapted creatively for music therapy.
By incorporating this “Shake Rattle and Roll song” activity, you can provide a fun, dynamic, and therapeutically rich experience for your teenage music therapy groups, helping them develop essential skills while enjoying the power of music.
