Musical
These games and exercises take improv into the musical realm, incorporating song and dance into our improv scenes.
Bad Rap
Description
- Players stand in a circle and snap, clap, or pat a rhythm.
- Everyone chants together in rhythm: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap.
- The first player raps a line, establishing the rhyming word.
- Everyone chants together between each line.
- The next player raps a line setting up an obvious rhyme for the last word of the previous line but then chooses a non rhyming word to end the line.
- The next player in the circle uses the last word of the previous line to set up an obvious rhyme but then again doesn't go for it.
- Continue the pattern as long as your group likes!
Example
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- Player 1: I sure would like to eat a snack!
- Player 2: (thinking of the rhyme pack) I always stick together with my wolf crew!
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- Player 3: (thinking of the rhyme dew) I love the grass in the morning covered in wet!
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- Player 4: (thinking of the rhyme debt) I have bag credit because I'm in finance bad!
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- etc...
Variations
- Have the next person finish your line with the non-rhyming word.
- Example:
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- Player 1: I sure would like to eat a snack!
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- Player 2: (thinking of the rhyme pack) I always stick together with my wolf...
- Player 3: crew!
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
Tips
- Try to set up the next person with an easy word to rhyme. Single syllable words are usually safe.
- As soon as you hear the person before you's end word, think of a rhyme, then build up to it and pick a different word at the last second.
- Synonyms are usually the way to ge, but a curveball can be fun too.
Tags
Exercise -
Listening -
Musical -
Party -
Warm Up -
Beastie Boys
Description
- Two teams of 3-4 players will face off in a pseudo rap battle.
- Each team has a leader who sets up rhymes and supporters who try to complete the rhyme in time with a beat.
- Instruct the audience to make a buzzer sound if the team fails to complete the rhyme in a way that makes sense or is too off beat.
- To start each round, the host will get a one word suggestion.
- The two leaders will go back and fourth trying to set up their team to complete their rhyme with the suggested word.
- If the support players fail to complete the rhyme appropriately the leader is eliminated and rotates to the back to become a supporter and a new leader steps forward, which starts a new round.
- The team who won the previous round will go first in the next round.
- A team loses when all their members have been eliminated as the leader.
Example
- Suggestion: Day
- Team 1 Leader: Little kids at recess, they love to...
- Team 1 Support: PLAY!
- Team 2 Leader: I sure don't curse, those aren't words that I...
- Team 2 Support: SAY!
- Team 1 Leader: I don't know where I am, I don't know which...
- Team 1 Support: ... uhhh... Oh! WAY!(way too late off beat)
- Audience: *buzzer sound*
- Team 1 rotates and a new round beings.
Purpose
- This game is great for practicing rhyming, getting in a rhyming mindset, and setting up others to finish rhymes.
- It's a great warm-up or show opener.
Tips
- Really bring that energy and spirit of competion to this game. Feel free to dis the other team or act like their rhymes are whack.
- The host should ask the audience for one or two syllable words unless the performers are very skilled at rhyming.
- If it is helpful a leader can do an act out as part or their set up.
- The beat can be played by a percussion, a looping backing track, or by having the performers snap, clap, or pat. But a track or percussionist is preferred for a live performance.
Sources
See Also
Tags
Energy -
Exercise -
Listening -
Musical -
Party -
Performance -
Warm Up -
Beastie Rap
Description
- Improvisers circle up and snap, clap, or pat a beat.
- The game starts with a chant in rhythm: Dada da da dada da!
- Repeat the chant 2-4 times at the start of the game.
- The first improviser will rap a line ending with an easily rhymable word.
- Repeat the chant once after each line.
- Going around the circle, the next 3 improvisers will rap a line that ends by rhyming with the first improviser.
- Other members in the circle will listen closely and try to predict and say the rhyming word at the same time.
- After the initial line and the three rhyming lines, the chant is repeated 2-4 and the next person in the circle raps a new line with a new easily rhymable word and the pattern repeats.
Example
- Ensemble: Dada da da dada da!
- Ensemble: Dada da da dada da!
- Player 1: I just put on my brand new SHOES!
- Ensemble: Dada da da dada da!
- Player 2: Sherlock holmes always looking for-
- Ensemble: CLUES!
- Ensemble: Dada da da dada da!
- Player 3: Wanna be a member? Better pay your-
- Ensemble: DUES!
- Ensemble: Dada da da dada da!
- Player 4: My main man Scott on the ones and-
- Ensemble: TWOS!
- Ensemble: Dada da da dada da!
- Ensemble: Dada da da dada da!
- Then a new round starts with the next member in the circle.
Purpose
- This is a great group warm up and useful for practicing rhyming and bringing high energy.
Tips
- Really bring that Beastie Boys vibe and energy.
- As soon as you hear the rhyme word quickly think of as many rhyming words as you can to have ready to go.
See Also
Tags
Energy -
Exercise -
Listening -
Musical -
Party -
Warm Up -
Ping Pong Ballad
Description
- This is a game for two improvisers.
- A volunteer from the audience is invited to sit center stage.
- The two improvisers conduct a brief interview of the audience member. Get their name, family, pets, occupation, hobbies, etc...
- Instruct the audience member that whoever they are looking at during the song has to be singing, they can switch back and forth between who they are looking at as much as they want, and to use and abuse this power.
- The music comes in and who ever is being looked at must serenade the audience member.
- The improviers will need to listen intently while the other is singing so they can continue any lines are are interupted with a switch.
Tips
- If you get switched to mid word or phrase, do your best to finish that word or phrase.
- Use the persons name often. It's a good reset or start of a line or verse.
- Better yet if you can set up rhymes with their name.
Sources
Tags
Audience Participation -
Interview -
Listening -
Musical -
Tagline Song
Description
- A simple tagline is discovered through a scene or suggestion.
- Then the music will come in and the improvisers will sing a song with four parts.
- In a front facing tagline song each verse starts with the Tagline.
- In a back facing tagline song each verse ends with the tagline, so you know before you start what rhyme you need to set up.
Structure
- Tagline Verse
- Tagline Verse
- Bridge that does not include the tagline
- Tagline Verse
- Optionally: repeat the tagline for a big finish!
Tips
- If the tagline ends with an easy rhyme, go for a back facing tagline
- If the tagline seems hard to rhyme with, start your verse with the tagline.
- Other singers can sing the tagline on each verse even if it's not their verse. Especially at the end.
Sources
Tags
Musical -
Song Format -