1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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?

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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?

13. 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?

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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