Submitted by Kristin Lukow, Nebraska

Idea posted May 27, 2005

I was looking for an easy piece for my beginning recorder players to echo and I stumbled onto this possibility. "Play Me A Cowbell" from Music K-8, Vol. 15, No. 4 can be played on the recorder using only the note "G." We notate all four rhythm patterns on the board, and we echo-play them first. I then sing the song using these words:

"Play me the first line." - They play the rhythm of the cowbell - 1st.
"Play me the second line." - The play the rhythm of the tambourine - 2nd.
"Play me the third line." - Now it's the rhythm sticks line - 3rd.
"Play me the fourth." - They play the drum line - 4th.
Then we all hum just like the original song.
During the interlude, we play all four lines consecutively.
Now it's time to repeat. They love it!