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Activity

Rhythm Patterns with “The Shoemaker”

Aaron Butler
Author

Created February 19, 2026 | Added March 29, 2026

Visit the Shoe Factory! Unlock the door, bring machines to life, and try on fast, heavy, or floating shoes as students explore rhythm, dynamics, and tempo through movement and drums.

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Adaptations / Extensions

For older students, write words on the board, count sounds of each pattern, and assign note-values to each (confirm by looking at the size of our claps). Each student writes the patterns.

For even older students: Take a walk…if you hear “Pull Pull,” skate; if “Tap tap tap,” patsch with a friend; if “Wind it this-a-way,” tap it on the wall.

Bonus Game

One person thinks of a pattern and plays it without speaking. The others try out different words and patterns to determine which one it is. Try it! Try another! Which feels better?

Assessment / Reflection Suggestions

Using space is crucial to the comfort of playing fast and slow notes, so take time to practice. When “guessing” a pattern, an answer is never “right” or “wrong,” rather we have to try both and rely on their skill (that we have been teaching) of identifying which one feels more in unison.

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Author

Aaron Butler

Aaron Butler is an active musical director, accompanist, and teacher in New York City. He is a specialist in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, a musical director for Mind The Art Entertainment, and is a founding member of Sound Narcissist. He is comfortable in a variety of musical styles—from baroque through contemporary classical, opera, Broadway, and improvisation. Faculty: Lucy Moses School, Bloomingdale School of Music. M.M. (piano), Longy School of Music; Dalcroze Certificate & License, Longy School of Music; Artist’s Diploma, Brandeis University; B.A. (Music and Physics), Amherst College. Piano with Lois Shapiro, Lanfranco Marcelletti; Dalcroze with Lisa parker, Anne Farber, Ruth Alperson; Figured Bass with Frances Conover Fitch, Peter Sykes. More information at aaronplayspiano.com
Rhythm Patterns with “The Shoemaker”
Aaron Butler, Author

Catalog

  • Resource ID
    7524
  • Original Date
    February 19, 2026
  • Date Added
    March 29, 2026

About

  • Category
  • Age
    Ages 3–6
  • Dalcroze Branch
    Eurhythmics
  • Dalcroze Teaching Techniques
    Association, Quick Reaction, Relationships of Time, Space, and Energy, Social Interaction / Group Exercises
  • Music Topics
    Form & Structure, Movement & Contextual Activities, Rhythm & Meter
  • Movement Topics
    Sway

Community & Access

  • This is a members only resource.
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About the Author(s)

Author

Aaron Butler

Aaron Butler is an active musical director, accompanist, and teacher in New York City. He is a specialist in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, a musical director for Mind The Art Entertainment, and is a founding member of Sound Narcissist. He is comfortable in a variety of musical styles—from baroque through contemporary classical, op…
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