Boomwhacker® Bagatelle: Score
By Kevin Lepper and Les Taylor
Grade: 1
Item: 98-DB1094S
$5.00
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Description
The band provides the backdrop for your percussion section in this original work that features a full set of those popular percussion tubes---the boomwhackers®. This piece can also be played using Orff or other melodic mallet instruments. The work is more linear in concept than most beginning band pieces with recurring ostinatos throughout. (2:30)
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Beginning Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DB1094S
More about this title
Why we love this
This piece does something rarely seen at Grade 1: it treats percussion as a melodic voice with real agency rather than relegating them to rhythm duties. The layered ostinatos create sophisticated harmonic movement while remaining accessible, giving your entire ensemble something genuinely engaging to play.
What to expect
Bright, playful, and surprisingly sophisticated. The recurring ostinatos create a hypnotic rhythmic foundation that lets the boomwhacker melody dance on top with genuine lightness and humor.
Who it's for
Beginning concert bands looking to feature a percussion section without dumbing down the musical content. It works equally well for programs where boomwhackers are already part of your Orff curriculum or as a reason to invest in a set.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the boomwhacker melody against the concert band underneath. Because these tubes project differently than pitched instruments, you may need the band softer than you'd expect at first rehearsal.
- Establish the ostinato patterns in isolation before adding the full texture. Students often rush when multiple rhythmic layers occupy the same space.
- Let the boomwhacker players own their sound. The timbre is bright and unusual; lean into it rather than asking students to blend them away.
How to use it
Program this as a novelty feature in a spring concert where you want to showcase different timbres and give your younger students a memorable moment in the spotlight. Its 2:30 length makes it a natural palette cleanser between heavier works.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining consistent ostinatos against contrasting melodic material
- Reading and performing with non-traditional pitched percussion
- Balancing ensemble voices and adjusting dynamics for different tone colors
- Sustaining linear melodic lines in a Grade 1 context