Lesson 71 of 84 · Tempo

⭐ 30 XP🥁 Rhythm Room

African Drumming Beats (Part 4)

🎵Stage Brief #71

African drumming has strong beats that make you want to dance.

🎯 Your mission

Feel the beat. Clap with it. Don't lose it.

⚡ The twist

Counting out loud helps more than counting in your head.

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Listen for this

🎧 Count along: 1-2-3-4. Where are the surprises?

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Artist Spotlight

🌟 Tito Puente could play ten different drum patterns at once. He invented his own.

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Mind = Blown

🤯 Some songs change tempo so smoothly you don't notice — but your body does.

Learn about african drumming beats (part 4): subdivide the beat into smaller values

What You'll Learn

African drumming has strong beats that make you want to dance. People have been drumming in Africa for thousands of years.

Subdivide the beat into smaller values

Understand tempo changes (accelerando, ritardando)

Check Your Understanding

Question 1 of 3

What is a quarter note?

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Where you hear this in real life

Every game soundtrack, every TikTok beat, every commercial jingle — rhythm is the foundation.

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Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Tap the rhythm of your favorite song with your fingers — without playing it.

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For the dinner table

“Clap a rhythm. Can your kid clap it back? Try one with a rest in it.”

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