A Boomwhacker Christmas: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Meyer designed this piece to work exactly as written because he performs it regularly with his own orchestra. The staging instructions eliminate guesswork, the novelty hook lands every single time, and the string writing stays accessible while keeping the band engaged. Your audience gets the laugh, your students get the memory, and your winter concert gets the standing ovation.

Infectious and playful. Hearing familiar carols transformed by the unexpected percussion of Boomwhackers on human heads creates genuine surprise and delight. The string accompaniment remains warm and musical throughout, grounding the novelty in legitimate musicianship rather than pure gimmick.

String orchestras at the elementary and early middle school level who want to anchor their winter concert with something entertaining and foolproof. This works equally well for seasoned programs and those still building confidence; the piece carries itself through Meyer's straightforward writing and the inherent fun of the concept.

• Recruit four confident student soloists who can handle audience interaction without losing their place; they're the face of the piece and their comfort directly affects the execution.
• Select eight audience members during rehearsal if possible so you can brief them on what's coming and ensure they're seated where the soloists can reach them safely.
• Balance the Boomwhacker sounds carefully during rehearsal; they're louder than you might expect, so adjust string dynamics in the score's marked passages to let the novelty shine through.
• Run the staging multiple times before performance so soloists know their exact path to each audience member and back; muscle memory prevents panic when the audience reacts.

Position this as the closer to your winter concert or the opening number of a holiday pops set; it's strong enough to end on and memorable enough to send the audience out smiling. The two-minute runtime makes it an ideal palette cleanser between heavier repertoire, or pair it with a more traditional carol arrangement to show range within the same concert.

• Maintaining ensemble precision while managing stage movement and visual engagement
• Playing with awareness of non-traditional percussion and adapting balance accordingly
• Reading straightforward Grade 2 string writing with reliable rhythmic patterns
• Ensemble focus and communication under performance pressure with unpredictable elements (audience reaction)