An echo waits for a sound and answers it. A round adds another possibility: the second person begins the same phrase later while the first person continues. The overlapping activity becomes the material of the piece.
For this original beginner exercise, use a four-part spoken pattern: “tap, rest, tap, clap.” Agree that each word occupies one evenly spaced beat, and replace the word “rest” with silence. Practise together once so the pattern itself does not need much attention.
Two entries, one continuing pulse
Person A repeats the pattern. Person B enters two beats later with the same pattern and continues repeating it. Try four repetitions, then stop on an agreed signal. There is no need to speed up or compete over who can stay louder.
The delayed entry places different parts of the pattern together. In this example, B’s first tap meets A’s third-beat tap; B’s rest meets A’s clap. Listen for those combinations rather than treating the other person as a distraction to ignore.
If the pattern slips, return to speaking it together. An easier version uses just one tap followed by three quiet beats. Once that feels settled, restore the clap or try a one-beat delay and notice what changes.
Decide how to finish
There are at least two useful endings. Both people can stop together, cutting off the second person’s final phrase, or A can stop first while B completes theirs. Try both and discuss which ending makes the piece feel more complete to you.
Keep the score short enough that each performer can remember it without watching a screen. The point is to experience independent entries inside a shared pattern. If you later choose a melody instead of taps, begin with one you created yourselves or have permission to use, and preserve the same clear agreement about when each person enters.