Hoppin' Guy

The star of this song is a lively and energetic bunny who just has to hop! The song could be used for a spring or Easter program, though it does not specify anything that would limit it to those occasions. The lyrics and melody are quite simple, so you could probably use this with younger kids with no problem. The tracks will help them hear and feel the swing style (where the eighth notes are triplet based). The one potentially challenging moment is at the coda where the vocal line modulates to the new key. This line is marked as optional in case your singers don't hear the transition naturally or well. It is covered instrumentally, so singers can just come back in with the pick-up to measure 52.

With a song like this, you are going to want to have an outgoing student to play Hoppin' Guy. Or you could have more than one, and alternate them. Or, it could be Hoppin' Gal. Or Hoppin' Guys or Gals (plural). If you make these changes, just adapt the lyrics accordingly. For example: They're hoppin', hoppin'. There's just no stoppin' those bunnies. They're some hoppin' guys.

Ample opportunity for movement is given throughout the song. But there is one particular section when it is encouraged for featuring your star (or stars). This occurs at the D.S. (measure 9). You will hear an instrumental interlude at this point. It is a little different than the melody was at measure 9 the first time, though it follows harmonically. Have students listen to this instrumental interlude to become familiar with it. It offers some quotable moments from possibly known other tunes that they might recognize. It also gives some rhythmic cues for movement, such as the three quarter notes in measure 10 which imply "hop hop hop." This and any of the movement can be designed or freestyle. (And of course, a bunny costume is essential. Make it simple or elaborate as your resources dictate.)

After the key change, things are really hoppin' (so to speak). If you like, let students add snaps to beats 2 and 4 starting at measure 52 and continuing to the end of the song. Hoppin' Guy can keep on moving, and perhaps invite some of the others to join in as well (if they haven't already).

This is our second big band jazz feature in this issue, also arranged by Paul, of course! We hope that you will have a chance to play the instrumental tracks for your students (track 23 on your CD). There is a lot of neat stuff going on in there that will be easier to pick out when students are not singing. Especially if you are doing a unit on jazz, this could be a great listening lesson! And, as you might imagine, this song really needs the recording. Even if you have a great jazz pianist, it's not the same. In fact, our piano/vocal score is more of a road map than an actual, playable piano part. As you will hear, many of the nuances of the accompaniment are not written out on the score. There just isn't room! (FYI: Our instrumentation includes drums, piano, acoustic upright bass, acoustic arch top guitar, 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, and 2 horns. And yes, that's Paul playing the piano.)