Image captured from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoyRy3FpoFk
This week’s play-along is titled, “Boomwhacker and Percussion Instrument Play-Along to John Williams - Olympic Fanfare and Theme conducted by Gustavo Dudamel - Performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic with the help of the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” at the 2014 Walt Disney Concert Hall Gala”. The title is too long, hence why I place it in the blog post and not as the title of it.
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, kick off this week. I enjoy watching a variety of sports, discovering remarkable athletes, and hearing national anthems. It's always a pleasure to revisit John Williams's "Olympic Fanfare and Theme," composed for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California.
John Williams, a highly esteemed composer of the 20th and 21st centuries, crafted the "Olympic Fanfare and Theme" to capture the essence and magnificence of the Olympic Games, embodying the global unity and competitive spirit of the occasion. The piece includes a powerful brass fanfare followed by a sweeping orchestral theme that conveys the Olympics' excitement and dignity. This music has become synonymous with the Games, often used in broadcasts and ceremonies to create a sense of anticipation and festivity.
Williams's Olympic Theme and Fanfare showcase his talent for creating music that not only enhances visual media but also transcends it, becoming an essential part of the cultural tapestry associated with the events it represents.
Boomwhacker and Percussion Instrument Play-Along
This play-along features the following instruments:
Boomwhackers CEFGA
Woods
Drums
Metals
Shakers
It also features numerous rhythm patterns and musical concepts:
Eighth notes
Quarter notes
Dotted quarter notes
Rests such as eighth rests and quarter rests
Fermata
4/4 and 2/4 meters
Dynamics
Crescendo
Accents
Sforzando (sfz)
Two Platforms
You can view this on two platforms: My YouTube channel and my Soundslice channel.
YouTube: If you view it there you will see the video as is and can alter the tempo.
Soundslice: If you view it there, you can:
Alter the tempo
Alter the key
Isolate and display single parts
Set up a clip of certain measures for the students to practice as a loop
Decrease or increase the notation
Decrease or increase the video
Change the conducting cursor
Scroll by page or by or by horizontal notation
Mute multiple tracks
This play-along is challenging, so having the option to use Soundslice to do all of the items mentioned above assists greatly when the students are learning it.
Manipulatives
As with many of my other play-along videos, there are manipulative with fun facts about John Williams and Gustavo Dudamel, a video interview with them both, and the score to assist with learning the parts. I would suggest approaching this one part at a time and using body percussion to teach the rhythm patterns before adding the instruments.
The manipulatives can be found in the Extras Section.
Enjoy this play-along and watching the Summer Olympics!