Tambourine Kid

This simple song is part of the revue, We're Making Music! It is specifically written for your youngest students so that they, too, can participate in your all-school production of the revue. Of course, as with most of the songs in the revue, it can be used outside of the revue in any other context you like.

The vocal part is super easy and can be learned quickly. It is unison throughout except for the call and response the second time, which is indicated on the music. If you'd rather keep it in unison here, you may eliminate the call and response.

The tambourine playing is the big deal of the song. You can have one player or many. The part is also simple, but you can change it any way you like. The important thing is to follow the directions in the music if possible. For example, shaking the tambourine up high or down low. The right and left indications on the music are optional, as are the big circles. But if you use these actions, the song becomes choreographed automatically. We actually recorded our tambourine in stereo so you can hear this movement on your speakers. To help your players get started, there are two measures of drums setting up the tune.

One option for alteration would be to have tambourines hit or shake on every beat instead of as written. Have students do this in planned movements - to the right, to the left, etc., and alternate patterns to keep the movement going.

Recorders - To further enhance your performance options, we have added a recorder part. It includes only the notes B, A, and G, so that your beginning recorder students can join in. Further, we've suggested that Boomwhackers®, mallets, or keyboards can play along with the melody. We have done this on the full performance version on the CD. This allows older students to join in with the younger students, making it more versatile, not to mention fun!

The tambourine part and the recorder part have been extracted for your convenience. You will find them on page 19.