Juba Jive

"Juba" is a term that has long been a part of the music language. It also has a variety of definitions, depending on how it is used. As a part of songs, it is a joyous hint that the song with that title will be energetic and appropriate for movement. The term "juba" also has been used as a synonym for what the vaudeville performers called "hambone," which involved slapping thighs in various manners and other body percussion. We want to honor all of this history in a recorder feature that lets young players add a low E and D to their B, A, G range and have fun with a new style of tune.

In addition to the recorder part, we also include a "jive" part, which is essentially a body percussion part. It calls for patsching (patting the thighs with open hands) and clapping. The sign "P" indicates a patsch on both thighs, whereas "L" and "R" refer to a patsch on the left or right thigh respectively. In a full class of recorders, you can have half of the class playing and half of them "jiving." In a setting where some kids don't play recorder, it will be a good way to get the whole class performing together. You will note that we have used single and two-bar repeats. We found these easier to read and keep track of for repetitious patterns.

Since we suspect this will be a popular song and activity, we are providing recordings at two different tempos. This way, once the class is getting proficient at the slower tempo, you can add new fun to the lesson by bringing out the faster one.

Online extras - The free, downloadable extras mentioned can be found under the "Graphics and Extras" for Volume 18, No. 3 at MusicK8.com