He Was A Drummy Boy

This lively Latin piece presents you with the opportunity to showcase your young percussionists either in a performance or a classroom setting. It can also be useful as a tool for studying and reinforcing rhythms and improvisation. The drum part, which is indicated on both the piano/vocal and isolated as a separate part, uses a one-line percussion staff for ease of reading. You will note that we have indicated the players as "he and she." This corresponds with the lyrics, however you can alter this as needed, using multiple "he's" or "she's."

The drums that they play can be any drums you like. The tune is deliberately vague in this regard so that you can choose which drum or drums work best for you. There are also moments in the piece where the drums are featured, such as at measure 16 and measure 32. If you do use more than one type of drum, use these sections to make the most of it. While the rhythms are written out, improvisation is encouraged. You could even use this chance to have students write new rhythms, reinforcing their notation skills.

The vocal part is unison and easy so that it doesn't distract from the drummers. Ideally, singers would be separate from drummers, which would also allow you to alternate who is singing and who is playing. One vocal note would be to let singers use a relaxed pronunciation, especially on the word "drummy." Instead of a distinct "ee" sound, let them be almost a little lazy and say "eh" instead. It's more pop-like and cool, and feels good with the Latin groove.

If you do use this piece for performance, consider making a real show of the drummers themselves. Bright or sparkling costumes, decorated drums and/or sticks, and lots of physical exaggeration (even choreography) will add to the entertainment.