More elaborate Footsies

It is possible to produce more intricate footsies that are not overly difficult and very rewarding.

A. Changing levels

It is possible to change levels as we go along, and it is especially easy to do so at the repeat of a short song. This will mean changing the tempo of the feet, in this case, twice as slowly, without changing the tempo of the song.

The right spot
This change of tempo will take place at the beginning of the last note of the previous section.

Exercise
Try running through the 4 levels ofTwinkle, Twinkle,
     from thesmallestto thelargest,
and see if you can do it without looking at theAnimation.

B. Combining 2 levels

It is possible to have the feet beat 2 levels at the same time, by placing the feet farther apart, and by having each foot touch the ankle of the other foot (without striking the ground) before striking the ground.
     This would give the following sequence -
          1. theRight foot strikes the ground,
          2. the left footTouches the right ankle,
          3. theLeft foot strikes the ground, and
          4. the right footTouches the left ankle,
                    the whole sequence indicatedR-T-L-T.
               ATouch is always made with the foot which follows.
     At thelargerof the 2 levels -
          step 3 is the Off-Beat and step 1 is the Beat, and
     at thesmallerof the 2 levels -
          steps 2 and 4 are the Off-Beats (steps 1 and 3 being the Beats).

A 4/4 bar would be footsiedR T L T, atLevel -1andLevel -2.
One cell would be footsiedL T / R T, atLevel 0andLevel -1.
Two cells would be footsiedT / L T // R, atLevel +1andLevel 0.

Exercise
Now, placing this with the melody might not be that easy
     (we'll start withTwinkle, Twinkle).
          Remember that you must end on step 1 (where the right foot strikes).
It's very good practice to get the answer by yourself but the FootsieAnimation
     is there to help you, placing the feet atLevel 0andLevel +1.

Exercise
Now, if you want to try withRed River Valley
     you will find the FootsieAnimation
     atLevel -1andLevel 0becauseLevel 0is so much longer and slower.

C. Adding a second level with Hand-Claps

To theLevel 0movements of the feet,
     we will add Handclaps on the Off-Beats ofLevel -1.

Exercise
Try this by yourself first, withTwinkle, Twinkle
     and then check with theAnimation

D. Adding a third level with Hand-Claps

To theLevel 0andLevel +1movements of the feet, (see B. Twinkle, Twinkle)
     we will add Handclaps on the Off-Beats ofLevel -1.

Exercise
Try this by yourself first, withTwinkle, Twinkle
     and then check with theAnimation

It is difficult to overestimate how beneficial all these footsies are
to a good sound development of rhythm.
Apply these four kinds of footsies (with and without hand-claps) to any melody.
You may have to clap hands twice if that particular level is ternary.

Above all, enjoy!
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