Submitted by Kristin Lukow, Nebraska
Idea posted December 4, 2002
Question: I'm lining up my whole school Christmas program and am wanting to include Boomwhackers®. At first, I thought of O Whacky Christmas Tree (from Music K-8, Vol. 13, No. 2) but when I looked at the Boomwhacker® parts I froze. I'm thinking, how do I teach them this with so many different notes coming at unpredictable times? In performances, do you let the kids use print music when booming?
Answer: I am using this piece this year, and I will have them use music. I don't use music for anything else... but this is a must! I will tape it to the floor before the program so no one knows it is there. We sit on our knees to play and I have them play whacking parallel to the floor. My 6th graders are playing and they are fairly experienced with Boomwhackers®. I think it will challenge them and they will love it!
We did Whacky March From The Nutcracker (from Music K-8, Vol. 12, No. 2) last year and loved it. I think it will be a tradition at least for awhile to have 6th graders play Boomwhackers® at the holiday show.