When you listen to Maurice Ravel's famous work Boléro, it's hard not to sing along to the melody and tap your foot to the never-ending snare drum! 

Boléro has a famous ostinato, or repetitive musical idea, that makes it so unique and fun to listen to. The simple rhythmic pattern played on the snare drum repeats throughout the entire work... and it's something you can play, too! 

First, learn how to play the ostinato here: 

 

Next, listen to a recording of Boléro and see if you can tap along for the entire piece! We love this version, conducted by the Ravel himself, here: 

How to make this activity even more challenging:

• Try a faster recording like this one. Which tempo, or speed, do you prefer? 
• Match the musicians in the video as they play the long crescendo. That means you need to start softly, then gradually tap louder and louder until the end!