Carlmont students are jammin’ to a new beat, but instead of using drums, or beat-boxing, they’re using cups.

The “cup beat” is a series of clapping, tapping and drumming on a cup that you put together to make a catchy beat. You can do it by yourself, or with friends as you pass the cup(s) around.

Many Carlmont students have been learning this new beat, and when they see someone else doing it, it becomes contagious.

“Well, my friend was doing it at a restaurant and then all my friends wanted to learn so I joined in. Once we all learned, we played games with them and sang songs that worked well with the beat,” commented sophomore Elise Dimick. “Once you get the hang of it, you can’t stop! It’s so fun!”

Although the “cup beat” has been around for years, it recently got popular from the new movie Pitch Perfect, where one of the main characters does the beat for a musical audition.

“I play (the cup beat) because its catchy and fun to do with a group of friends,” said sophomore Brittany Zelnik.

A lot of people are learning how to play to this catchy beat by tutorial videos that have been posted on YouTube, as well learning from their friends and family.

“I’ve already taught a couple people,” said Dimick. “I attempted to teach my little brother, but he couldn’t get it so he just gave up.”

Overall, as this new beat is taking over the teenage population, it is starting to become very popular among Carlmont students as well.