Initial Boomwhacker® Lesson

Submitted by Artie Almeida, Orlando, Florida

Idea posted November 1, 2002

For our initial Boomwhacker® lesson, I sit the kids in eight rows. Usually there are three or four kids in each row (sitting behind one another like on a train). They look at the C scale chart on the wall and figure out which pitch they are going to be. I demonstrate C scales on the piano, recorder, xylophone, etc. We sing a C scale using letters, numbers, then solfège.

We look at the Boomwhackers®, talk about size determining pitch, rules for playing, etc. I pass out the Boomwhackers® and have free whacky time for a few minutes.

Then we go to playing position (which for us is hitting into our hand), just for uniformity and a not-too-loud sound. I choose a rhythm flash card (maybe ta-ta-ti-ti-ta, or ti-ti-ti-ti-ta-ta) and we play the scale up and down with each pitch playing the four-beat rhythm on the card.

Then we play the scale with just two quarter notes on each pitch ascending and descending. Then we go to just one quarter note with an immediate turnaround at the top of the scale. I like to do these scale warm-ups with my electric/flash metronome giving us a solid beat to work with. Otherwise they tend to rush.

Next, I dictate Hot Cross Buns in three keys. We talk about the home tone and how HCB starts on the third pitch. We turn out Boomwhackers® horizontally and sing HCB showing the melody levels with our Boomwhackers®. I dictate the melody for them to play in C (E-D-C), then go to the key of F (A-G-F), then finish off with the key of G (B-A-G). (Be sure to send your high C kids to another Boomwhacker® or down to join the low C line, or they won't get a turn during this portion of the lesson.) After each successful segment we all do whacky applause.

Then I finish the lesson with Chris Judah-Lauder's "Listen for Your Letter." We sing the melody, and then I dictate a four-beat pattern in the key of C. The kids have to play back the patterns on their Boomwhackers®. I make them progressively harder.

They do love the Boomwhackers®! We venture into literature in later lessons.