In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, a main magnet assembly (12) produces a uniform magnetic field through an imaging region (14). An imaging region is defined within a subject by selecting gradient magnetic fields spatially encode the main magnetic field. A whole body birdcage radio frequency coil (26) excites magnetic resonance in dipoles of the subject. The resonance signals are received by the whole body coil (26) and by a second, local birdcage radio frequency coil (16). The first radio frequency coil (26) produces and is sensitive to a uniform radio frequency field in the imaging region (14) while the second radio frequency coil (28) is sensitive to a field that varies sinusoidally in space. From one radio frequency excitation, the two birdcage coils (26, 16) receive different sets of data with which to fill k-space, accelerating data collection.