Submitted by Carolyn Steele, Pennsylvania
Idea posted June 25, 2002
I tried this Boomwhacker® activity before Easter with "Jelly Bean Blues" (from Music K-8, Vol. 12, No. 4) which my students loved!
After teaching the class the song, I wrote the 12 bar blues chords on the board. We then discussed the 12 Bar Blues form briefly and reviewed how chords are formed. We did this rather quickly, and I think the classes would benefit just doing a chord lesson with the Boomwhackers®.
Anyway, I then passed out the Boomwhackers® and had the students sit in groups according to which chord they were to play. We practiced playing while I pointed to the chords, then sang along as I or a student directed (pointed to the chords!) the group.
They loved this activity and would have easily been able to extend this to improvise their own blues songs - I haven't done this yet, but I will soon!