Submitted by Christopher Saraga; Jennifer S.; Kristi Keast; Andrea Cope, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Idea posted November 7, 2003
Question: I used Boomwhackers® for the first time in class this past week. The first thing I said to my students was, "You will not put your mouth on the Boomwhacker®, nor will you hit anyone else with your Boomwhacker®." Not a single student had problems with these two rules...
BUT, in every class one kid (usually a boy) hits himself in the head instead of the leg with the instrument. When the rest of the students see this, they of course think its funny and follow suit. No one is getting hurt, but is it inappropriate for me to allow students to hit themselves in the head with the Boomwhacker®? Even the third grade classroom teacher did it a couple of times.
Answer: From Christopher Saraga: I usually let them get away with this once and that's it. I tell the class that we will no longer "bonk" ourselves in the head with our Boomwhackers®... it's bad for the head, and the Boomwhacker® doesn't care for it much either!
Although, if you "bonk" yourself in the head with the Boomwhacker® it makes a great sound! The resonance is wonderful! Of course, over time I don't think vibrating all that cranial matter is good! I've also found that the shoulders work well for resonance, too. The legs are just too dead, and carpet doesn't do the Boomwhackers® any justice!
Answer: From Jennifer S.: I don't think there's anything wrong with it. It is their head after all. If you don't like it, just let them know. Why were they hitting their legs in the first place? We hit the Boomwhackers® on the floor. I didn't think the idea was to hit yourself with them to make the music even though the kids inevitably hit themselves anyway.
Answer: From Kristi Keast: I let them have three minutes of "exploration" after review of the basics: no mouths (Do you know how many kids touch these?) and you bend it, you loose it. Then we become professional Boomwhacker® players. Seems to get it out of their system.
Answer: From Andrea Cope: I let them do it without drawing any attention from me. Eventually they'll get tired of it. I have to let them because I occasionally do it myself. My rules are if you touch one before you're supposed to, or when it's not your turn, you lose it. No mouths, no sword fighting, and no hitting anyone else.