Boomwhackers must be the most useful instrument available

Boomwhackers must be the most useful instrument available. Musically they are incredibly versatile, they are cheap, indestructible and always popular with the children. I am going to share some very simple activities just to get you started. They include: PITCH – identifying change in pitch CHORDS – how to make chords RHYTHM – creating rhythm patterns COMPOSITION – using chords and rhythms to create your own music http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

Boomwhackers are lightweight, hollow, colourcoded, plastic tubes, tuned to musical pitch by length. As in all instruments, the longer boomwhackers have a lower pitch than the shorter boomwhackers. Each boomwhacker is labelled with the musical alphabet name (C, D E F G A B C’) and the tonic sol-fa names (Do, -Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do’). Boomwhackers can be played by tapping them on any hard surface, your hands or legs (not too hard!), with mallets or tapping them together. The musical alphabet is made up of 7 letters: A B C D E F G this is then repeated http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

We are going to start by listening to the sound of each boomwhacker. • • • Children sit in a circle Distribute the boomwhackers one per child in colour blocks and in alphabet order Children play in sequence to hear the PITCH change from LOW to HIGH Reverse the direction. Play from HIGH to LOW Choose a child to be the conductor. Using arm movements, they then direct the class to play loud or quiet; fast/slow; crescendo/decrescendo; stop/start The conductor can choose which boomwhacker group acti plays by pointing at them. Try choosing two or three vity uses ALL groups at the same time, stopping those you don’t of t he b oom wha want to play cke This • rs http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

To compose a piece of music we are going to need some NOTES and RHYTHM. We know we can play individual notes or chords on the boomwhackers, so now we need a rhythm. We are going to get this by using colours and shapes. First choose any colour and then choose any shape. You don’t have to stick to the examples given UARE Q RED S IANGLE N A I SE TR OI U TURQ CLE R I C W YELLO BLUE TR PINK P ARALL SAPPH IRE SP ELOGR A IR GREEN C M CLE HERE RE A U Q PLE S PUR Try playing some of them as rhythm sentences on the boomwhackers Try making up a routine. (There is an example on the next page) http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

Step 1 Step 2 C, plays red square yellow circle and stops C E plays red square yellow circle and stops G E C G plays red square yellow circle and stops C’ plays red square yellow circle and stops C, plays red square yellow circle and repeats C G E joins in. C E Then G joins in Then C’ joins in Step 4 Step 3 All play red square yellow circle together 4 times C E G C 4 Step 5 4 Split into 2 groups – low Csounds and high sounds. E G C C&E play red square then E&G play yellow circle Repeat the step 4 times All play red square yellow circle together 4 times C E G C 4 Step 6 C We need to end the routine. C C E G Each boomwhacker plays 1 tap consecutively. Repeat 3 times All play 1 tap together as a final note 3 http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music E G C

When we play 2 or more notes together we produce a CHORD. Depending on which notes we choose to play together decides whether the CHORD sounds good or not. Playing the notes next to each other in the alphabet at the same time doesn’t produce a good sound. Eg, C and D or E and F. This acti However if we skip a note and play e. g. C and E or F and A, the sound really improves. vity uses ALL of t In the circle, try playing both ways and find out omw for yourselves. hac he b o kers http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

C, D E F G A B C’ Which boomwhackers will sound good when played together? Why do you think that is? http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

C G C E C Chord D F G B G Chord A F Chord Each chord is named after the ROOT note. This is the first note used. So, in the C chord, C is the first note used, So, in the G chord, G is the first note used, So, in the F chord, F is the first note used, Chords are often played with 3 notes. we skip D and add E, we skip A and add B, we skip G and add A, We call these TRIAD CHORDS skip F and add G skip C and add D skip B and add C http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music so our chord is made up of CEG so our chord is made up of GBD so our chord is made up of FAC

Chords can be split into two groups: MAJOR and MINOR MAJOR chords have a HAPPY or BRIGHT sound MINOR chords have a MYSTERIOUS or DARK sound Chord R A MINO Chord R O J A C M G G MA C E C G JOR C G hord D E A B E MINO R Chord E Try switching between MAJOR and F MINOR chords. D How easy is it to play C Major and C hord C R then A MINOR A O J F MA F Can you see any other chords that are hord C R O A D MIN similar B http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

Paint colour charts have some amazing words on them. We are going to use them to compose RHYTHM SENTENCES and then play them on boomwhackers. http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

I have chosen 3 colour cards: ALPACA MITTENS, SALTY BLUE and OOPSY DAISY. I am using the notes in the D Minor chord D F A As this is a sentence, I will read it from left to right. I’m choosing to play the boomwhackers individually. D F D A ALPACA MITTENS SALTY BLUE ALPACA MITTENS OOPSY DAISY http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

Try: • Choose your own paint colours, clap the rhythm first • Using a whole chord for each colour chart or to make sure they work well together • Switch between major and minor chords or • All play together, then break into solos • Choose which chord or chords you are going to use • Are you working alone, in pairs or a small group? The trick is, to keep the rhythm simple but make the routine a bit more complicated How can you make it trickier? http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

Layering means playing different rhythms on different With a COMPOSITION GRID you can compose and write a piece of boomwhackers at the same time. music for others to follow and play. Everyone has to stick to their own We will also be LAYERING the boomwhacker rhythms. part to make it work. Each grid is separated into 2 bars of music each containing 4 beats. A well layered piece of music will have: • A bass line – a lower sound with a solid beat, especially needs to play Decide which boomwhackers you are going to use (3 or 4 work on beat 1 • A middle – 1 or 2 boomwhackers that can play on any beat well) then decide on which beat each boomwhacker is going to • An upper part – using a higher boomwhacker, this can play lots of play. Remember, they will be playing at the same time, so you will fancy short notes on any of the beats. need to leave some gaps. How can I compose a well layered piece of music? http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

BAR 1 Boomwhacker Beat 1 C’ B A G F E D C, Beat 2 BAR 2 Beat 3 Beat 4 Beat 1 Beat 2 Beat 3 Beat 4 SHORT RED PINK PURPLE DARK GREEN LIGHT GREEN YELLOW ORANGE LONG RED http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

BAR 1 Boomwhacker Beat 1 C’ B A G F E D C, Printable sheet Beat 2 BAR 2 Beat 3 Beat 4 Beat 1 Beat 2 Beat 3 Beat 4 SHORT RED PINK PURPLE DARK GREEN LIGHT GREEN YELLOW ORANGE LONG RED http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music

There is plenty to be getting on with here and lots of fun to be had with boomwhackers. Some of the pages can be a bit tricky to understand so be sure to check out the audio file where I have explained in a bit more detail and played the boomwhackers so you can hear how each activity is supposed to sound. Enjoy, Carol http: //www. educationonfire. com/primary-music