Check Your Pulse (resources)

Welcome to Check Your Pulse!

Check Your Pulse is a series of videos designed for singers and choirs to explore rhythmic expression. There’s loads of fun ways to engage with pulse and develop your sense of rhythm.

Lesson One:Indian style notation of a simple konnakkol phrase in 4 or 5 speeds (metric modulation) Relates to Tha Thin Tha

View or Download the Lesson One PDF here: Indian style notation of a simple konnakkol phrase in 4 or 5 speeds (metric modulation)
Relates to song: Tha Thin Tha DOWNLOADthe lesson notes without the tala beat markings, here!

I am passionate about singers developing a vocal sound-bank, and enjoying vocal expression ‘off the page‘ that is connected, spontaneous, rhythmic and expressive.

Check Your Pulse videos take you thru a series of pulse explorations: konnakkol structures (Sth. Indian vocal percussion), metric modulations, internal pulse sub-divisions, and polyrhythmic activities to deepen your sense of groove and your understanding of all things pulse related. There’s an array of material that I have developed in my creative practice and offered for many years in my workshops, choirs and lectures. Everything here is taught with an aural focus – an emphasis on how things feel – rather than using notation. Indian style or Western notation is given where relevant; you will see it on the page as part of the lesson. I encourage you to stay in your body and experience rhythmic depth. Move, sway, stomp and clap as we explore what’s going on beyond the downbeat. It’s all about how we feel the internal sub-division of the pulse – that’s where the rhythmic experience begins.

LESSON TWO: Time Shifting (laya rathna) Internal subdivisions 1 – 9  

View or Download the Lesson Two pdf here: Time Shifting (laya rathna) Internal subdivisions 1 – 9 

LESSON THREE:konnakol structure sub 4/6/8 Time Shifting (laya rathna)

View or Download the Lesson Three pdf here: konnakol structure sub 4/6/8 Time Shifting (laya rathna)  

LESSON FOUR: 12/8 bell pattern and groups + interlocking clapping patterns (relates to Thulele Mama Ya)

View or Download the Lesson Four pdf: 12/8 bell pattern, groupings + interlocking clapping patterns (relates to Thulele Mama Ya).

LESSON FIVE: 7’s – in cycles / riffs / improvs – Misra Chappu

View or Download the Lesson Five pdf: 7’s – in cycles /riffs/ improv (Misra Chappu). South Indian style notation of the konnakkol phrase in 3 speeds.

Lesson Six: ‘Thanga’ konnakkol bass line riff with VP in sub 4 and 5

View or Download the Lesson Six pdf: Konnakkol bass line (riff) from Thanga with VP in sub 4 and 5

© lisayoungmusic.com Check Your Pulse

Some videos relate to elements of my choral repertoire; there are short sections from Tha Thin Tha, Thulele Mama Ya, Thanga, Ah Zumbeh etc… which are useful for singers learning these works, and also great stand-alone rhythmic riffs and structures for any musician to enjoy. All of the lessons were first explored in my creative practice, where as a performer/composer I have spent decades developing my sense of rhythmic pulse.

In my music I work with song form, wordless pieces, improvisation and vocal percussion, encouraging a great love of rhythm and using the voice as a colourful instrument. The music crosses a cappella, jazz, world music, and improvisation. To view the sheet music available for choirs click here.