A BAG O' Tigers

adapted by M.C. Handel/arr. Paul Jennings

Start the year off with a little dixieland fun for your beginning recorder players. All they need to get started is B, A, and G, and a lot of energy when they "roar!" You can adapt this arrangement of "Tiger Rag" any way you like. On the recording, we performed it as written, with the recorders playing the first time through the song. Then they sing at bar 11 the second time through, and at bar 27, they go back to playing.

Listen to the recording for the dixieland band, complete with tuba, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, banjo, piano, and drum set. This style was especially popular during the 1920s.

The traditional words to this song are "Hold that tiger," which you may use, but we like the friendlier "Save that tiger," as tigers are in great danger of extinction in many places. At the very end, have just one soloist (or all) imitate a kitten for a surprise ending. Have your students be careful when resetting their embouchures after the roars to be sure to do so gently so as not to hurt their lips or teeth.

Text is taken from Music K-8 magazine.