Tempo Scale: Walking from 1 to 10

The group walks through the space matching speed to a scale from 1 (almost still) to 10 (as fast as possible under control). It trains the Viewpoints idea of tempo and pacing effort.

How to play

1. Free walking that fills the whole space, freezing on a drum hit (2 min).
2. The teacher calls numbers 1 to 10 and everyone changes tempo; the class agrees on what a 5 looks like (3 min).
3. No voice: the group must reach the same tempo just by watching; the teacher whispers a number to one person and the rest pick it up (2 min).
4. Two tempos at once: half the class at 2, half at 8; they watch the contrast and talk about it (2 min).

Rules

• At 10 you walk fast or jog, but no sprinting or bumping.
• Eyes up and fill the gaps: move into empty space.
• On the drum hit, full stop within two counts.

Variations

Adaptations

• Blind or low-vision students: walk with a partner holding the elbow; the partner passes the tempo through hand pressure.
• Wheelchair users: same number system, adjusting push speed; the group leaves wide lanes.
• Ankle injury: work tempo with arms and torso from a fixed spot on the edge.

Learning goals

• Gradually raise heart rate.
• Tell tempos apart and reproduce them consistently.
• Coordinate group tempo without verbal cues.

Equipment for a class of 25

• hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

No hand drum? Two loud claps or a drumstick on a PVC stick work fine. The classic slip is a 1 that's really a 4: ask for a 1 so slow you can barely see the step.

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