Over There Is My Future

This pop-style gem is a wonderfully motivational piece to use with your students who are graduating, moving forward, taking on new challenges, or just plain celebrating the possibilities of the future. No one really knows what might be "over there," which makes the anticipation and speculation all the more exciting. Appropriately, this tune has a driving energy that builds to the pinnacle at the coda, where a huge halftime backbeat, thick layers of brass and strings, and a soaring solo trumpet practically make it take off. And just when you didn't think it could get cooler, it does. Everything drops out except the kids and drums in a quasi-a cappella chorus. Boomwhackers® and body percussion remain, though these are optional here as well as throughout the piece. Vocals are unison, which makes it easy to add these extra goodies. The BW and body perc lines are indicated on the piano/vocal score, but we have also extracted parts for both and included them in this issue (pages 20-23).

The body percussion includes claps, stomps, and patsches (thigh slaps). While they are fairly repetitious, students will need to pay attention to see when each element plays. There is a bit of variety, depending on the section of the tune. You can have all performers do the body perc as they sing, or you can have it broken into groups where only some sing and some play. Or mix and match. You can also alter the rhythmic patterns on the music to suit your situation, making them simpler or more difficult.

The BW part is also repetitious except for a change in the rhythmic pattern at the chorus. It only uses the notes C, F, G, and A which is basically the bass line. You could have one or more players per pitch, or one or more players per two pitches, depending on how beefy you want it. Use a combination of lower and higher octaves if you have the instruments. As mentioned, this is optional, but it adds a nice texture to the tune. You could also use other pitched percussion such as marimbas or xylophones or even other keyboards to add to or replace this line.