Learn the Biz Markee - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Learn the Biz Markee

Learn basic beatboxing inspired by Biz Markie: practice mouth percussion sounds, combine rhythms, and record a short beat to share safely.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to Learn the Biz Markee

What you need

Mirror, water bottle, paper, pencil, adult supervision required

Step 1

Gather all your materials and bring them to a table or floor space.

Step 2

Find a quiet comfortable spot where you can hear yourself clearly.

Step 3

Sit or stand in front of the mirror so you can watch your mouth while you practice.

Step 4

Take a small sip of water to moisten your lips.

Step 5

Make the bass drum "B" sound by pressing your lips together and popping a quick burst of air without using your voice.

Step 6

Make the hi-hat "t" sound by placing your tongue near your teeth and making a short crisp "ts" noise.

Step 7

Make the snare "pf" sound by pushing air through slightly closed lips so it pops like "pf" or "pff."

Step 8

Tap a steady 4-beat pulse with one finger on your leg to set a slow tempo.

Step 9

Say the pattern "B t B pf" slowly while keeping the steady pulse with your finger.

Step 10

Repeat that pattern 8 times, keeping the timing steady and watching your mouth in the mirror.

Step 11

With an adult's help, record a 15–30 second clip of your beat using a phone or computer.

Step 12

Share your finished beatboxing clip on DIY.org.

Help!?

If I don't have a mirror or a phone/computer, how can I still watch my mouth and record the beat?

Use a shiny window, a piece of aluminum foil, or the reflective back of a tablet to watch your mouth while practicing, and record the 15–30 second clip using a friend's device or any voice‑recorder app on an available gadget.

I'm struggling to get the 'B' or the snare 'pf' to pop correctly—what can I try?

For the bass 'B' press your lips firmly together and release a quick burst of air without voicing, and for the snare 'pf' tighten your lips a little more and push a short strong breath while practicing slowly with the finger pulse and watching your lip shape in the mirror.

How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?

For younger kids simplify to just 'B' and 't' with a slow 2‑beat leg tap and four repetitions, while older kids can repeat 8+ times, add faster tempos, extra sounds, and multitrack recording on a computer.

What are ways to extend or personalize the beat before sharing it on DIY.org?

Personalize by changing the 4‑beat pattern (for example 'B pf t B'), adding new sounds like 'k' or 'ch,' using a metronome app for tighter timing, and trimming or layering your 15–30 second recording with free editing software before uploading to DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to Learn the Biz Markee

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And You Say He's Just A Friend The Story Of Biz Markie

4 Videos

Facts about beatboxing and vocal percussion for kids

🎤 Biz Markie was nicknamed the “Clown Prince of Hip Hop” and loved mixing goofy fun with his beatboxing and raps.

🥁 Beatboxing uses your mouth, lips, tongue, and voice to imitate drum sounds like kick (B), hi‑hat (t), and snare (k).

🎧 Doug E. Fresh is often called “The Human Beatbox” and helped popularize beatboxing in the 1980s.

🎵 Biz Markie’s hit “Just a Friend” made the U.S. top 10 in 1989, showing how beatbox‑flavored hip hop can go mainstream.

🌍 There are international beatboxing battles where performers create rhythms, sound effects, and clever vocal tricks live on stage.

How do I do the 'Learn the Biz Markee' beatboxing activity with my child?

To run the Learn the Biz Markee activity, start with a warm-up: loosening lips, humming and gentle breathing. Teach three core mouth percussion sounds—kick (a voiced 'b' pop), hi-hat ('ts' or 'tss'), and snare ('psh' or a sharp 'k'). Practice each slowly, count four-beat patterns, then combine sounds into simple loops. Gradually increase speed, add short fills, and finish by recording a 15–30 second beat to share safely and celebrate progress.

What materials do I need for the 'Learn the Biz Markee' beatboxing activity?

You only need a quiet space, a mirror for watching mouth shapes, a glass of water to stay hydrated, and tissues. A phone or tablet works for timing and recording, plus a metronome or free tempo app to keep steady beats. Optional items: headphones, simple tutorial videos, and a notepad for rhythm ideas. No special instruments are required; parental supervision is recommended when recording or sharing online.

What ages is the 'Learn the Biz Markee' beatboxing activity suitable for?

Beatboxing is adaptable: children around 5–7 can explore basic mouth percussion in short, supervised sessions focused on fun sounds. Ages 8–12 usually manage consistent rhythms and simple loops, while teens can work on timing, variation, and recording longer pieces. Supervise younger kids for breathing technique and hygiene (no shared mouth contact), and tailor session length to attention span and comfort.

How can we share my child's beatbox recordings safely and responsibly?

Prioritize privacy and consent before sharing: get parental permission and the child's agreement, avoid full names or location details in captions or filenames, and use private sharing (family groups, password-protected links, or closed classroom platforms). Prefer audio-only clips or blurred video, check platform age rules, review who can comment, and teach kids not to accept messages from strangers. Keep clips short and save an offline copy.

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