Submitted by Darla Iaquinta, Michigan

Idea posted August 2, 2002

I did "Whomp Out Loud" (from Music K-8, Vol. 11, No. 5, also available in Whacky Do Re Mi And Other Boomwhacker® Favorites) with six third grade classes this week. Here's what I did:

Materials: Boomwhackers®, of course (one per student). Transparency of song with color-coded chords. (I used blue for the C chord, yellow for F, and green for G.)

1. First, we echo clapped 4-beat patterns, simple first, then graduating to harder, syncopated patterns, ending with the pattern of 1-&-& 3 z as in the song. I went over this one several times to get it as clear as possible.

2. I counted off the students 1-8 as many times as needed (doesn't matter if there's not an even 8).

3. I kept a beat with sticks, and while I counted 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8, the kids were to clap on their assigned beat. Then worked this into 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 as in the opening of the song.

4. We also rehearsed the ending of the song 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-{1,3,5,8} with claps. I told the 1,3,5,8 students they were the BLUE group, so I'd say BLUE on the chord here. NOTE: At this point, I haven't yet shown them the music or passed out Boomwhackers®.

5. I told them who was in the BLUE group (1,3,5,8), the YELLOW group (1,4,6,8), and GREEN group (2,5,7), and we practiced clapping the chords in rhythm.

6. Here's where I turned on the overhead and we looked at the format of the song, i.e. multiple measure rest, repeat signs, etc. I pointed out that their numbers correspond to the 8 notes in the scale, and they would get the lettered Boomwhacker® that matches their number.

7. We listened to the recording following the music on transparency as I pointed. The kids generally began clapping at their assigned spots without being asked to.

8. Now I passed out the Boomwhackers®. WARNING!!!! TAKE GREAT PAINS TO BE CLEAR THAT THEIR CHORD COLOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR BOOMWHACKER® COLOR!! We played along with the recording and there was almost instant success! By the 2nd time through, they really had the hang of it and were singing and whacking, and every class loved it. Most played it for their classroom teachers before they left my room.

Another terrific lesson. Thanks, Paul and Teresa!