Boomwhackers 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

What are Boomwhackers? Boomwhackers are lightweight, hollow, colour- coded, 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

Pitch Pitch Pitch 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 plays by pointing at them. Try choosing two or three groups at the same time, stopping those you don’t want to play This activity uses ALL of the boomwhackers http://www.educationonfire.com/primary-music

Chords Chords Chords 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. However if we skip a note and play e.g. C and E or F and A, the sound really improves. In the circle, try playing both ways and find out for yourselves. This activity uses ALL of the boomwhackers http://www.educationonfire.com/primary-music

Chords Chords Chords 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

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

Chords Chords Chords MINOR chords have a MYSTERIOUS or DARK sound 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 A MINOR Chord C MAJOR Chord C G E D B A F D F A E G B C G MAJOR Chord E MINOR Chord Try switching between MAJOR and MINOR chords. How easy is it to play C Major and then A MINOR Can you see any other chords that are similar F MAJOR Chord D MINOR Chord http://www.educationonfire.com/primary-music

Composition 1 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 YELLOW CIRCLE RED SQUARE BLUE TRIANGLE SAPPHIRE SPHERE GREEN CIRCLE TURQUOISE TRIANGLE PURPLE SQUARE PINK PARALLELOGRAM 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

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

Composition 2 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

Composition 2 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. ALPACA MITTENS SALTY BLUE ALPACA MITTENS OOPSY DAISY D F A http://www.educationonfire.com/primary-music

Composition 2 Try: Using a whole chord for each colour chart or Switch between major and minor chords or All play together, then break into solos The trick is, to keep the rhythm simple but make the routine a bit more complicated Choose your own paint colours, clap the rhythm first to make sure they work well together Choose which chord or chords you are going to use Are you working alone, in pairs or a small group? How can you make it trickier? http://www.educationonfire.com/primary-music

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

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

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

Printable sheet BAR 1 BAR 2 Boomwhacker Beat 1 Beat 2 Beat 3 Beat 4 C’   BAR 1 BAR 2 Boomwhacker Beat 1 Beat 2 Beat 3 Beat 4 C’ SHORT RED B PINK A PURPLE G DARK GREEN F LIGHT GREEN E YELLOW D ORANGE C, LONG RED Printable sheet 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