Nutcracker Rhythm Cup Explorations® is a resource that has been years in the making, and we’re so excited that you can enjoy it this Christmas! The music of The Nutcracker is nostalgic, immediately recognizable, and such a fun way to bring in the holiday spirit. Read on to see what this new resource is, how you can use it, and watch our own cup-tapping fun during a recent webinar!
What Is Nutcracker Rhythm Cup Explorations®?
This new Rhythm Cup Explorations® resource combines all the fun of our other rhythm resources with the exciting music of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. There are 48 instantly downloadable PDF pages that contain arrangements of March, Waltz of the Flowers, and Trépak, along with four levels of cup-tapping choreography for each arrangement. The PDF also includes piano sheet music (late intermediate level) that can be played with each piece.
The Rhythm Cup Routines can be used for all levels of students – from Level A (the same level as My First Rhythm Cup Explorations) all the way to Level 3 (mid/late intermediate). There’s something for every student – and fun new moves for everyone! Yes, these cup-tapping routines have more than just tapping, clapping, and passing cups. With jumps, twirls, and other new moves, your students will love this choreography!
While incredibly fun, you can also opt to use this edition of Rhythm Cup Explorations® as something that’s challenging – it is Tchaikovsky, after all! This is why we included something brand new: demo videos! These can be used to help your students learn the moves, and get students excited about the choreography.
In addition to the PDF and demo videos, there are also streaming and downloadable tracks included. If you haven’t yet used our streaming tracks, this is a great way to see if you like them! You are not charged monthly for the streaming tracks with this purchase – they’re gifted to you and are automatically included!
Choosing a slower tempo track will make this a more relaxed and fun activity. Choosing a more difficult cup tapping level and a faster track will make it more challenging. It’s your choice how you use it!
What Does the Choreography Look Like?
At our Holiday Webinar, we cup-tapped the Nutcracker Rhythm Cup Explorations® in real time. Watch excerpts of it here to see how fun it is!
How Can I Use Nutcracker Rhythm Cup Explorations®?
There are so many options for using this resource:
- Group lessons
- Holiday recital (it would make a wonderful closer!)
- Holiday party
- Classroom music program
- One-on-one lessons
- Use with your own family or studio families!
- Are you a classroom teacher? This is the perfect way to fill the gap between the Holiday Program and the Winter Break.
What if There Isn’t a Piano in the Room?
You’ll notice after purchase that there are two types of tracks for both the downloadable and streaming tracks: with and without piano. If you (or an advanced student) have the time to learn the piano sheet music to play along with the tracks, you can use the tracks without piano so your instrument really shines through! If you don’t have time/don’t want to learn the piano sheet music, just play the tracks that do have the piano mixed in! And of course, if you want to do this in a room without a piano at all, the tracks with the piano make this possible!
Will My Students Enjoy This?
While we think this resource is an absolute blast for students and teachers alike, here’s what a ComposeCreate® teacher had to say about using Nutcracker Rhythm Cup Explorations:
⭐️⭐️⭐️Be prepared for your students’ eyes to light up!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is one of my favorites EVER of Wendy’s creations! I am so delighted with the energy and fun that this is bringing to my studio already!
2 things that I have already noticed–
1–Almost everyone recognizes the songs from the Nutcracker (not true of students for other holiday music necessarily). This creates INSTANT buy-in!
2–This makes learning dynamics FUN and exciting! I got so many giggles working on the March Level A and Level 1 when doing the crescendoes.
Thank you so much Wendy for making this dream come to life! The videos demonstrating the dance moves are wonderful to show the students and help make the symbols clear in a way that no other resource could have. The whole package is perfection!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Have you used Nutcracker Rhythm Cup Explorations®? Let us know in the comments!
Is there anyway we can buy just one song of the nutcracker separately?
Hi Lucie,
Thanks for your interest! The only way to purchase the Nutcracker is through this PDF book. We don’t sell the individual pieces separately.