The Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper Boogie

lyrics by M.C. Handel/music by Paul Jennings

They've always liked tongue twisters, M.C. and Paul. What great fun joining Peter Piper for an afternoon of picking pickled peppers. (Did you know that the peck of pickled peppers that Peter Piper picked is where Peter Piper put the peck of pickled peppers that Peter Piper picked?) Anyway...

We thought it would be a nice thing to add a little tongue twisting to this new blues boogie. It's a great way for your recorder students to play (and speak) a little swing style in midyear (or any time, for that matter.) Featuring E, G, A, B, C, and D, it is also a nice addition to the curriculum for Recorder Karate as a substitute or enhancement for one of the last four belts. And it can give players a chance to do some simple improvisation.

On the recording, you will note that at measure 26, the player plays first time as written and the second time ad libs using the notes of the song. If you want to try jazz solos with your students, have them start simply, and always be encouraging. There are no wrong solos... only those that sound better. They will get better the more they do it. Once you are rolling, maybe you will want to "trade fours" - each player in turn playing for four bars then moving to another player.

Online extras - The free, downloadable piano/vocal score can be found under the "Graphics and Extras" for Volume 17, No. 4 at MusicK8.com

Text is taken from Music K-8 magazine.