Submitted by Kristin Lukow, Nebraska

Idea posted July 26, 2002

Boomwhackers® are my favorite instrument. I mean it! This is the order I have followed with my classes... so far!

First... Teach them HOW to play them! Many different ways... I like parallel to the floor. Take them away if they don't follow the rules. My students will OBEY to play - they love them!

K: Each student plays 1 Boomwhacker®
"Hot Cross Buns" after learning how to play xylophones
Echo rhythms with Boomwhackers® sitting in chords, C/F/G
1st-2nd: Each student plays 1 Boomwhacker®
Boomwhacker® scale - up and down... after learning body scale
"Do-Re-Mi" - regular version
"Whacky Do Re Mi" (from Music K-8, Vol. 11, No. 1)
3rd: Each student plays 1 Boomwhacker®
Review the previous year and...
"Whacky Sounds" (from Music K-8, Vol. 10, No. 5)
4th: Each student plays 1 Boomwhacker®
Review the previous year and...
Add Boomwhackers® to recorder music as primary instrument and chordal accompaniment
5th: Students learn to play multiple Boomwhackers®
Review the previous year and...
"Whomp Out Loud" (from Music K-8, Vol. 11, No. 5) - my favorite!
6th:
Review previous years and...
"Whacky March From The Nutcracker" (from Music K-8, Vol. 12, No. 2)

"Whacky Song" (from Music K-8, Vol. 12, No. 1) is a fun one also. I am combining my 1st and 2nd graders and my 6th graders on this one. The younger students are singing with actions and the 6th graders are playing the Boomwhackers®.

I can't wait to try "Jelly Bean Blues" (from Music K-8, Vol. 12, No. 4) and many, many other pieces with Boomwhackers®! I have bought several other Boomwhacker® collections, but Paul's in Music K-8 are just so great! I'm a faithful MK8'er!

I don't think they are easy to teach... but well worth the effort!