MAPSFive Ways to Play Boomwhackers
Summary
A pitched-percussion activity using colour-coded boomwhackers. Students learn five ways to play the boomwackers - on the body, on a surface or object, on a special surface (e.g. tapping quickly back and forth in the crossbars of a chair, like a triangle struck fast on its corner), with a tool, and stamping with the caps. They use the methods for echo rhythms, speed challenges, colour-coded ensemble playing and simple composing. The activity builds steady beat, coordination, timbre exploration, rhythm reading and ensemble skills.
Procedures
- 1
Give every student a boomwhacker and let them explore freely: tap it on the palm, on the thigh or on the desk and listen to how the sounds differ.
- 2
Learn the five playing methods - the teacher demonstrates each one and the class tries it in turn:
a. on your body: tap the boomwhacker gently on the palm, arm or thigh; b. on a surface or object: tap it on the desk, floor or chair; c. on a special surface: put the boomwhacker into the crossbars under a chair and tap it back and forth quickly - it makes fast continuous sounds, just like a triangle struck fast on its corner; d. with a tool: strike the tube with a pen, a stick or another tube; e. stamping with the caps: tap the caps at the two ends of the tube against each other or against the desk.
- 3
Echo rhythms: the teacher plays a short rhythm using one method and the class echoes it with the same method.
- 4
Speed challenge: use method three (tapping fast in the chair crossbars) to play eighth-note runs, going from slow to fast and back to slow.
- 5
Colour orchestra: divide the class into colour groups; when the teacher points to a colour, that group plays - combine colours into a simple melody or ostinato.
- 6
Method ensemble: split the class into groups by playing method (body group, desk group, crossbar group, tool group) and play together, with a student conductor taking turns to lead.
Variations
1. Play in canon: colour groups start one after another.
2. Guess the tube: one student plays a tube with eyes closed, and the others guess which colour (pitch) it is.
3. Keep the steady beat on the tubes while singing a familiar song, one colour per beat.
4. Make a colour score: students write down colour sequences to compose their own melody.
5. Follow the conductor: the teacher leads tempo and dynamics with gestures - high hand for loud, low hand for soft, fast or slow.
6. Hold one tube in each hand and alternate, or tap two tubes together to feel a chord.
Reference Video Link
Activity Preparation
One boomwhacker per student (or one set per group), a desk, and a chair with crossbars for the fast-tapping trick.
Activity Sources
- Source Type:
- Website / Online resource
MAPS teaching activities may come from a variety of sources, including original contributions by the MAPS team, online resources, published materials, activities learned from teachers, activities shared by colleagues, traditional teaching practices, and other sources. When a source can be reasonably identified, we make every effort to acknowledge it on the relevant activity page or in the accompanying reference information.
Some content may be organized, translated, structured, or adapted by the MAPS team for specific teaching contexts. Such editorial or instructional adaptation does not mean that MAPS claims ownership of the underlying third-party material. Rights to third-party content remain with the original authors, publishers, or other lawful rights holders.
If you are an author, copyright holder, or authorized representative and have questions or concerns regarding the source, attribution, or use of any content, please contact us:
Email: musicactivityps@gmail.com
Five Ways to Play Boomwhackers
Summary
A pitched-percussion activity using colour-coded boomwhackers. Students learn five ways to play the boomwackers - on the body, on a surface or object, on a special surface (e.g. tapping quickly back and forth in the crossbars of a chair, like a triangle struck fast on its corner), with a tool, and stamping with the caps. They use the methods for echo rhythms, speed challenges, colour-coded ensemble playing and simple composing. The activity builds steady beat, coordination, timbre exploration, rhythm reading and ensemble skills.
Procedures
- 1
Give every student a boomwhacker and let them explore freely: tap it on the palm, on the thigh or on the desk and listen to how the sounds differ.
- 2
Learn the five playing methods - the teacher demonstrates each one and the class tries it in turn:
a. on your body: tap the boomwhacker gently on the palm, arm or thigh; b. on a surface or object: tap it on the desk, floor or chair; c. on a special surface: put the boomwhacker into the crossbars under a chair and tap it back and forth quickly - it makes fast continuous sounds, just like a triangle struck fast on its corner; d. with a tool: strike the tube with a pen, a stick or another tube; e. stamping with the caps: tap the caps at the two ends of the tube against each other or against the desk.
- 3
Echo rhythms: the teacher plays a short rhythm using one method and the class echoes it with the same method.
- 4
Speed challenge: use method three (tapping fast in the chair crossbars) to play eighth-note runs, going from slow to fast and back to slow.
- 5
Colour orchestra: divide the class into colour groups; when the teacher points to a colour, that group plays - combine colours into a simple melody or ostinato.
- 6
Method ensemble: split the class into groups by playing method (body group, desk group, crossbar group, tool group) and play together, with a student conductor taking turns to lead.
Variations
1. Play in canon: colour groups start one after another.
2. Guess the tube: one student plays a tube with eyes closed, and the others guess which colour (pitch) it is.
3. Keep the steady beat on the tubes while singing a familiar song, one colour per beat.
4. Make a colour score: students write down colour sequences to compose their own melody.
5. Follow the conductor: the teacher leads tempo and dynamics with gestures - high hand for loud, low hand for soft, fast or slow.
6. Hold one tube in each hand and alternate, or tap two tubes together to feel a chord.
Reference Video Link
Activity Preparation
One boomwhacker per student (or one set per group), a desk, and a chair with crossbars for the fast-tapping trick.
Activity Sources
- Source Type:
- Website / Online resource
MAPS teaching activities may come from a variety of sources, including original contributions by the MAPS team, online resources, published materials, activities learned from teachers, activities shared by colleagues, traditional teaching practices, and other sources. When a source can be reasonably identified, we make every effort to acknowledge it on the relevant activity page or in the accompanying reference information.
Some content may be organized, translated, structured, or adapted by the MAPS team for specific teaching contexts. Such editorial or instructional adaptation does not mean that MAPS claims ownership of the underlying third-party material. Rights to third-party content remain with the original authors, publishers, or other lawful rights holders.
If you are an author, copyright holder, or authorized representative and have questions or concerns regarding the source, attribution, or use of any content, please contact us:
Email: musicactivityps@gmail.com
