I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you are an elementary music specialist, or plan to be one, you are missing out on a wealth of information if you haven't signed up for the Music K-8 e-mail discussion list. (See the Plank Road Publishing website for information on signing up.) I get so many great ideas from this resource, and made some good friends in the bargain.

Ideas about using Boomwhackers are frequently floating throughout this list. Included in this article are just some of the ideas from teachers on getting the most of those cool, rainbow-colored plastic tubes.

Haven't joined the Boomwhacker revolution yet? What are you waiting for? Boomwhackers are cool. Kids can hit Boomwhackers on just about anything without hurting it (although, of course, you should establish rules on proper "Boomwhacker" etiquette). Boomwhackers can play harmony when two kids hit their Boomwhackers together. Boomwhackers can be used in conjunction with, or even replace, Orff barred instruments. So, if your budget is tight and you can't get that new xylophone you've been wanting, Boomwhackers are an economical alternative to hearing pitch. And, as in handbells, students need to pay attention. They need to know what is happening with the student before then, and they need to be watching their music and listening. This is a good way to keep them on their toes!

When "MK8" is mentioned, it refers to the Music K-8 Publication put out by Plank Road Publishing. It's a great resource!

Take these ideas, and use them to suit your particular situation, and just have fun!

From Cheryl Elder:" I thought I would share with you something I did today with "My Popcorn" from MK8 vol. 13/5. It is a great Boomwhacker song! All you need is C, C' D E and G. The rhythm is so simple that Kindergarteners can learn it. I used it also with my first graders.

I made a chart of the rhythm and taught that first, showing the note names under each rhythm with first grade. (they have been reading rhythms all year) I made the same chart of the words with note names with Kindergarten. The words are very simple and easy to learn.

I sat the kinders in a circle and grouped them according to their note names. All they had to know was what words to play on and BAM! they were a Boomwhacker ensemble! Playing Boomwhackers is great sitting in a circle because it lends itself well to that."

Cheryl has no problem using Boomwhackers with kindergarteners, either. She says it's great for color and letter recognition!

From Connie Herbon:" Two of our best activities with Boomwhackers are when we add them to "Hill 'n Gully Rider"on the response section (reinforcement for syncopated rhythm and uses only one chord) andwhen we use them in an ostinato pattern to accompany the round "I Love the Mountains." This really relates back to the days when I had 5th/6th who accompanied the song on guitars with the G Em Am D progression. "

More from Connie:"My third graders have just added single eighth note/rest to their vocabulary and needed some practice beyond their current songbook. I transposed "Musette" from Bach's Notebook for Anna Magdalena and wrote a Boomwhacker® part. Each 3rd grade class was able to play through the piece after about 15 minutes on the activity, so I think most groups of third grade and above should be able to handle it. The hardest parts are the measures of eighth rest/eighth note patterns. Those could be simplified by turning the pattern around, but playing the eighth notes after rests was the object of the exercise for my students.
You will need to translate the Boomwhacker® line to whatever form works for your players. Performance of the piece does require piano skills, but perhaps you can find a friend to make a recording for you if you are totally challenged in that area and still want to do the arrangement. Please ignore the "voice" marking under the Boomwhacker® line. I was unable to remove it from my Finale Notepad score."(Click here to download the arrangement of "Musette", courtesy of Music K-8)

My favorite Boomwhacker use:
I love to use Boomwhackers with my beginning composition units with first and second graders. I often have them do rhythmic dictation on whatever rhythm pattern they are working on at the time, then put up the solfege letters of whatever solfege syllables they are learning. The kids randomly add solfege to the rhythm, just "guessing", then sing their creation, using Curwin hand signs. I then assign students to Boomwhackers to perform the new composition. They love it!

For more Boomwhacker ideas, you can search the archives of the Music K-8 mailing list through the Music K-8 website, but nothing beats joining the list!

How do YOU use your Boomwhackers? Please feel free to contribute your ideas, and they will be posted on the Creative Ideas section of the Madness Site!

Next month: Surviving displacement: What to do when you lose your classroom.........................