Laughter Percussion Academy

Laughter Percussion Academy Laughter Percussion Academy: An Artistic Way Of Living!
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In the middle or western Australia desert in mining town called Kalgoorlie, a Peace and love Activist, Innovator, community leader, laughter therapist and entertainer Ras Banamungu who is passionate about using music as a tool for healing and bringing people together. He had heard about the concept of "laughter therapy" and was curious about how it could be used to help those in his communit

y who were struggling with physical and emotional challenges. Ras began by researching the science behind laughter and how it can be used to promote physical and mental well-being. He discovered that laughter can reduce stress, boost the immune system, and even help to lower blood pressure. He also learned that laughter is contagious and can be used to create a sense of connection and community among people. With this knowledge, Ras set out to create a program that would use laughter percussion as a means of bringing people together and promoting healing. He began by organizing laughter percussion workshops and classes, where participants were taught how to use laughter as a form of percussion. The workshops were a huge success, and Ras soon found that many of his participants were experiencing significant improvements in their physical and emotional well-being. They were laughing more, feeling more connected to others, and even experiencing reductions in symptoms such as chronic pain and anxiety. Encouraged by the success of his program, Ras began to explore ways to adapt laughter percussion to other community services, such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). He found that the techniques he had developed were easily adaptable to help those with disabilities, and he began to work with NDIS providers to create laughter percussion programs specifically for this population. As time went on, Ras's program continued to grow and evolve, reaching more and more people in his community. His work was recognized by many, and he was hailed as a pioneer in the use of laughter percussion for healing and community-building. Ras's story is a reminder that sometimes the most unlikely things can have a profound impact on people's lives. It shows how laughter, something that often seen as trivial, can be harnessed to create meaningful change and bring people together.

14/08/2026

Looklaka-Doo is a unique limited edition custom shoe concept designed by Idi Banamungu. College insert designer premium jacket, completely custom made in Italy, featuring pristine italian leather.

12/08/2026

Urusamagwe print is a unique limited edition custom shoe concept designed by Idi Banamungu. Extra large high top, completely custom made in Italy, featuring pristine italian leather.

11/08/2026
11/08/2026

A free laughter percussion slefpaced session for NDIS Workers

10/08/2026

LAUGHTER PERCUSSION SELF-PACED SESSION

Introduction to 12-Bar Blues, Beginner Guitar and Laughter Exercises

Level: Complete BeginnerDuration: 60–75 minutesDelivery: Self-paced / online / individual practiceApproach: Laughter Percussion – learning through rhythm, laughter, movement, participation and repetition

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, the learner should be able to:

identify the six open guitar strings;

play selected open strings in rhythm;

understand the basic structure of a 12-bar blues;

play simple beginner power-chord shapes;

combine guitar with percussion and body rhythm;

maintain a steady blues pulse;

use laughter as part of rhythmic participation;

create a short Laughter Percussion blues performance.

PART 1 — WELCOME AND WARM-UP

5–10 minutes

Stand comfortably.

Shake your hands.

Shake your shoulders.

Shake your legs.

Gently move your whole body to an imaginary beat.

Count:

1 – 2 – 3 – 41 – 2 – 3 – 4

Now clap on every beat:

CLAP – CLAP – CLAP – CLAP

Repeat four times.

Now say:

“I feel the beat.”

Clap:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Say:

“I become the rhythm.”

PART 2 — LAUGHTER PERCUSSION WARM-UP

We are going to use laughter as a musical instrument.

Exercise 1 — Four-Beat Laugh

Count:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Laugh:

HA – HA – HA – HA!

Repeat four times.

Keep the laughter short and rhythmic.

Exercise 2 — Call and Response

Say:

HO-HO!

Answer yourself:

HA-HA!

Then:

HO-HO – HA-HA!

Clap four times.

Repeat.

Exercise 3 — Kookaburra-Style Laughter

Start gently:

Ha... ha... ha...

Build it:

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Then allow the laughter to rise and fall like a musical phrase.

Finish with:

HA!

Take a comfortable breath.

PART 3 — MEET THE GUITAR STRINGS

10 minutes

You do not need to know complicated chords yet.

We begin with the open strings.

From the thickest string to the thinnest string:

6th string — E5th string — A4th string — D3rd string — G2nd string — B1st string — E

Say them aloud:

E – A – D – G – B – E

Now create a memory rhythm:

E – A – D – G – B – E

Play each string once.

Then play them slowly again.

Do not worry about speed.

The first goal is to produce a clear sound.

PART 4 — OPEN-STRING RHYTHM

We will begin making music before learning full chords.

Play the low E string four times:

E – E – E – E

Count:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Now play the A string four times:

A – A – A – A

Now the D string:

D – D – D – D

Try:

E – E – A – A

Then:

D – D – A – A

Now add laughter between the guitar phrases:

E – E – E – E

HA – HA – HA – HA!

A – A – A – A

HO – HO – HA – HA!

You are now combining guitar and Laughter Percussion.

PART 5 — WHAT IS 12-BAR BLUES?

10 minutes

The blues commonly uses a repeating musical structure containing 12 bars.

For this beginner session, think of each bar as:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

We will use three musical centres:

E – A – B

The beginner 12-bar blues pattern is:

Bars 1–4: E

Bars 5–6: A

Bars 7–8: E

Bar 9: B

Bar 10: A

Bar 11: E

Bar 12: B

So the complete pattern is:

E | E | E | EA | A | E | EB | A | E | B

Do not rush.

The important thing is learning to hear and feel the pattern.

PART 6 — OPEN-STRING 12-BAR BLUES

Before using power chords, practise the structure using only open strings.

For every bar, play four beats.

Bars 1–4

Play the low open E string:

E E E E | E E E E | E E E E | E E E E

Bars 5–6

Play the open A string:

A A A A | A A A A

Bars 7–8

Return to E:

E E E E | E E E E

Bar 9

For our very first version, use the open B string:

B B B B

Bar 10

Open A:

A A A A

Bar 11

Open E:

E E E E

Bar 12

Open B:

B B B B

Then start again.

You have completed your first simplified 12-bar blues cycle.

PART 7 — ADD LAUGHTER TO THE BLUES

Now play the same pattern, but leave spaces for laughter.

Try:

E – E – HA – HA

E – E – HA – HA

Then:

A – A – HO – HO

Return to:

E – E – HA – HA

The laughter should follow the beat.

Do not treat laughter as something separate from the music.

In Laughter Percussion, laughter becomes part of the rhythm.

PART 8 — INTRODUCING POWER CHORDS

10–15 minutes

A power chord is a simple guitar shape that gives a strong sound without requiring a full major or minor chord.

For beginners, start with a two-note shape.

G5 Power Chord

Place your first finger on the:

6th string, 3rd fret — G

Place your third finger on the:

5th string, 5th fret — D

Play those two strings together.

That is:

G5

Strum:

G5 – G5 – G5 – G5

Count:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

A5 Power Chord

Move the same shape up two frets.

First finger:

6th string, 5th fret — A

Third finger:

5th string, 7th fret — E

Play:

A5 – A5 – A5 – A5

Beginner Movement Exercise

Play:

G5 – G5 – G5 – G5

Move to:

A5 – A5 – A5 – A5

Return:

G5 – G5 – G5 – G5

Then laugh:

HA – HA – HA – HA!

Repeat slowly.

PART 9 — LAUGHTER PERCUSSION BLUES GROOVE

Put the guitar down for a moment.

Use your body.

Stomp:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Then clap:

CLAP – CLAP – CLAP – CLAP

Now alternate:

STOMP – CLAP – STOMP – CLAP

Say:

BOOM – CHA – BOOM – CHA

Repeat.

Now change the words to laughter:

HA – HO – HA – HO

Keep going:

HA – HO – HA – HO

You have turned laughter into percussion.

PART 10 — GUITAR + BODY PERCUSSION

Pick the guitar up again.

Play:

G5 – G5 – G5 – G5

Pause.

Clap:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Play:

A5 – A5 – A5 – A5

Pause.

Laugh:

HA – HA – HA – HA

Then return to G5.

The goal is not perfection.

The goal is coordination, participation and musical confidence.

PART 11 — BEGINNER SHAKALAKA-DOO BLUES

Now create a simple performance.

Count:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Play:

G5 – G5 – G5 – G5

Say:

Shakalaka-Doo!

Play:

A5 – A5 – A5 – A5

Say:

Laughlaka-Doo!

Play:

G5 – G5 – G5 – G5

Say:

Singlaka-Doo!

Then finish with:

HA – HA – HA – HA!

PART 12 — CREATE YOUR OWN RHYTHM

Now you become the creator.

Choose:

one open guitar string;

one power chord;

one clap pattern;

one body movement;

one laughter sound.

For example:

E – E – G5 – G5

CLAP – CLAP

HA – HA!

Then repeat it.

Give your rhythm a name.

For example:

“My Blueslaka-Doo Beat.”

Remember:

Create It. Name It. Laka-Doo It!

PART 13 — FINAL 12-BAR CHALLENGE

Play one complete blues cycle.

Count every bar:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Follow:

E | E | E | EA | A | E | EB | A | E | B

You may use open strings first.

When you become more confident, replace selected notes with power chords.

Keep a steady pulse.

If you lose your place, stop, laugh and begin again.

Mistakes are part of learning.

PART 14 — COOL-DOWN LAUGHTER EXERCISE

Put the guitar down safely.

Relax your hands.

Roll your shoulders gently.

Take a comfortable breath.

Tap your legs slowly:

Tap – tap – tap – tap

Say softly:

Ha – ha – ha – ha

Gradually make it quieter:

Ha... ha... ha...

Finish with one big:

SHAKALAKA-DOO!

Shake your hands.

Smile.

Session complete.

SELF-CHECK

Before finishing, ask yourself:

Can I name the six open guitar strings?

E – A – D – G – B – E

Can I keep a four-beat pulse?

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Can I recognise a 12-bar blues structure?

Yes / Not yet

Can I play at least one power chord?

Yes / Not yet

Can I combine guitar with laughter or percussion?

Yes / Not yet

Can I create my own short rhythm?

Yes / Not yet

If you answered “Not yet,” repeat that section.

There is no need to rush.

PRACTICE ROUTINE

For your next practice session:

5 minutes: laughter and movement warm-up5 minutes: open strings5 minutes: E–A–B blues pattern5 minutes: G5 and A5 power chords5 minutes: 12-bar blues5 minutes: Laughter Percussion improvisation

Final Message

Laughter Percussion is participatory.

You do not have to be an expert guitarist to make music.

Start with one string.

Find the beat.

Add another sound.

Add movement.

Add laughter.

Then create something of your own.

Create It. Name It. Laka-Doo It!

Address

Kalgoorlie, WA

Telephone

+61403543890

Website

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