The Beat Between

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ISSUE 03

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A MUSICAL ADVENTURE

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LITTLE NAUTS

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THE BEAT BETWEEN

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Every friend can find a place.

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At Jahman’s school, four friends were finding more and more things they liked doing together.

Jahari

I liked singing our welcome song together.

Pax

Hello, door!

Lux

Are you waiting for it to say hello back?

Pax

It is taking its time.

Zion

What about a hello we can play?

Jahari

For anyone who comes in!

Lux

A little welcome made by all of us.

Jahman

Try my little rhythm first. Listen, then make it together.

Pax

A musical puzzle?

Jahman

Let your ears have a look.

Picture Note

Jahman claps. His gentle nod keeps going.

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CLAP CLAP ... CLAP

Jahari

I can do that. Ready?

Zion

Let’s start together.

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Four claps. Almost the same?

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CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

Lux

That wasn’t quite the same.

Jahari

Maybe our hello needs to be bigger.

Pax

How big is a hello?

Pax

That hello nearly fell over.

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They try again, but their sounds tumble together.

Jahari

I thought more sound would help.

Lux

Now I can’t hear where anyone starts.

Jahari

Me neither.

Jahman

What could you listen for before you try again?

Zion

Your head kept going. Even when your hands didn’t clap.

Pax

Your head knows the puzzle?

Zion

It knows when the next bit comes.

Zion

Let’s count four. Keep them the same distance apart.

Zion

One. Two. Three. Four.

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1 2 3 4

Zion

How many counts before we start again?

Pax

Four! Then back to the first one.

Zion

Yes. No racing past any of them.

Jahari

I can keep that going without clapping.

Lux

Now we have something steady to follow.

Pax

There’s a picture on the other side!

Pax

Four boxes. But only three claps.

Pax

Which box has no clap in it?

Picture Note

Look carefully. Give yourself a moment before you turn the page.

Pax

The third one. Did a clap fall off?

Lux

Maybe it belongs like that.

Pax

A box full of nothing?

Lux

It gets just as much time as the other boxes.

Lux

What if we wait there, but keep the count going?

Jahari

Let’s try it both ways.

Jahari

Same speed both times. First, I’ll fill every box.

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1 2 3 4

Jahari

Now I’ll leave the third one quiet.

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1 2 3 4

Lux

Which one matched our card?

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Which try left the third count quiet? Think, then turn.

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1 2 3 4

Pax

The second one! The third box stayed quiet.

Jahari

I left a space, and it fitted!

Zion

The count didn’t stop.

Jahman

That quiet space in your rhythm is called a rest.

Pax

My hands had a tiny holiday.

Jahari

Lux, will you start us this time?

Lux

Watch for my nod.

Pax

My turn. Even my holiday has to be on time.

Zion

I’ll start one. Then you, Jahari.

Lux

That sounded like all of us.

Jahari

Because I could hear all of you.

Pax

And our very good quiet bit.

Jahari

Could our hello have a different sound?

Zion

Play it. I’ll listen.

Lux

And some words. “Listen close and leave some space.”

Pax

“Every friend can find a place.”

Lux

Those go together!

Zion

“You and me, a sound to share.”

Jahari

“Little Nauts, we’re getting there!”

Pax

Let’s put all of it together.

Jahman

You listened, left space, and made something together.

Lux

Our own musical hello.

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They make room for every voice.

Lux · singing

Listen close and leave some space.

Pax · singing

Every friend can find a place.

Zion · singing

You and me, a sound to share.

Jahari · singing

Little Nauts, we’re getting there!

All Four · singing

Listen close and leave some space. Every friend can find a place. You and me, a sound to share. Little Nauts, we’re getting there!

Pax

Can we do that again tomorrow?

Jahari

Yes. And make another one.

Zion

Same four?

Lux

Same four.

Jahari

Could our hello sound different?

Jahman

Let’s find out. I’ll help you get comfortable.

Pax

A little drum kit! Drums and cymbals.

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DRUM KIT

Pax

I’ll try our hello on this drum.

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A low drum thump. A crisp snare tap. A light cymbal tick.

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The same hello: clap, clap, quiet, clap. Try gentle taps.

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1 2 3 4

Jahari

This is a bass guitar. Listen to its low notes.

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BASS GUITAR

Lux

A low, bouncy hello!

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Low and bouncy. One note can leave room for the next.

Zion

This keyboard makes a note when I press a key.

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KEYBOARD

Pax

That second note went up!

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LOWER HIGHER Different pitch · similar loudness

Lux

A guitar. I can pluck one string, or brush across several.

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GUITAR

Jahari

Different sound. Can it play our hello?

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Pluck one string. Brush across several.

Lux

Which instrument is playing our hello? Listen first.

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Your clue: low, bouncy notes with quiet spaces.

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DRUM KIT

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BASS GUITAR

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KEYBOARD

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GUITAR

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Think about the four different instrument sounds.

Pax

I hear the same spaces.

Zion

Low notes.

Jahari

My bass guitar!

Jahman

There’s one more sound Lux can try.

Lux

It has keys, too!

Jahman

A melodica. Blow gently as you press a key.

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MELODICA

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A gentle breath and a key make a note.

Lux

Keys and breath!

Lux

Can the notes change and the rhythm stay?

Picture Note

The notes can change while the spaces stay the same.

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1 2 3 4

Pax

Same gaps. New tune!

Zion

I’ll help us start together.

Pax

I’ll keep our rhythm steady.

Jahari

I’ll leave space for your notes.

Lux

I’ll listen before I join.

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Drums begin. Bass joins. Then keys. Then guitar.

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Four different sounds. One musical hello.

Jahari

That sounds like us.

Pax

Can our hello have an encore?

Lux

After everyone gets a turn.

Jahari

You can try our rhythm too.

Lux

Clap, clap, quiet, clap. Keep every count the same length.

Pax

Gentle taps work too.

Zion

One. Two. Three. Four.

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1 2 3 4

Picture Note

Keep each count the same length. Leave count three quiet.

Zion

Try it again yourself, or take turns with someone.

Lux

Then choose a different count to leave quiet.

Jahari

When someone else leads, give their idea a listen.

Pax

Try two soft sounds with your hands. Can someone tell them apart?

Picture Note

Make another pattern. Take turns choosing the quiet count.

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1 2 3 4

Pax

I think that was my best quiet bit.

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They had started with a puzzle. Now they had another reason to make music together.

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LISTEN. LEAVE SPACE. PLAY.

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Clap, clap, quiet, clap. Keep four even counts.

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Try gentle taps instead. Take turns leading, and listen to the next idea.

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What new musical hello will you make together?

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The Little Nauts will be back for another adventure.