how to play a...
LIMBERJACK
This
folk toy is a real musical instrument! Play cool rhythms by yourself,
along with others or with recordings by following these simple steps:
1) Sit on the
narrow end of the "paddle board" (flat board) leaving
lots of board free (away from your body) to bounce like a diving
board. The board should stick out on your right side if you are
right handed or between your legs like riding a bike.
2) Make a fist
with your right hand (if you are right handed) and gently pound
on paddle board near where you sit and play a steady beat (keeping
"double time", i.e. "1 and 2 and 1 and 2 and...").
3) Hold the
limberjack still by grasping dowel rod with your left hand (the
hand you do not write with) and place limberjack over the paddle
board so the board bounces up and touches the feet to make the limberjack
"clog"/dance.
4) Play different
rhythms by lifting the limberjack away from the board (while still
pounding a steady beat with the other hand) then replanting the
feet onto the board.
Do not slap
the limberjack against the board. Let the board do the work. Remember
to keep a steady beat with your playing hand (pounding hand). If
you are left handed, pound with your left hand, put the board on
your left side and hold the limberjack with your right. After you
master steps 1-4, you can brake away from these rules to play interesting
counter rhythms against the beat!
HAVE FUN!
|