In my first “Seven Nation Army” play-along, students performed the familiar melody using solfa while also reading and performing rhythm patterns. For Part Two, we are transferring that same musical experience from singing to playing Boomwhackers!
This new version gives students an opportunity to practice pitch recognition, rhythmic accuracy, ensemble skills, and visual cues—all while playing a melody many of them will immediately recognize.
Grab These Boomwhackers (and Triangle)
For this play-along, you will need the following pitches:
B
C
D
E
G
Triangle
The primary melodic pattern is:
E E G E D C B
Students play each pitch when the soccer ball reaches the matching Boomwhacker on the screen.
If you do not have enough Boomwhackers for every student, add other pitched or non-pitched percussion instruments. Or have half of the class sing the pattern in solfa and the other half of the class performs using the Boomwhackers.
Three Ways Students Perform
The video includes three different activities.
1. Play the Melody
Students follow the soccer ball and play the Boomwhacker melody:
E E G E D C B
Before beginning the video, practice the pattern slowly as a class. Remind students to watch the ball rather than simply trying to remember when their note occurs.
2. Roll the Whole Notes
When the whole notes appear, students sustain the sound by rolling their Boomwhackers inside of a triangle or gently rolling them on the ground.
This is a fun way to help students experience the longer duration of a whole note instead of simply tapping the Boomwhacker once and waiting.
Be sure to establish expectations for safely rolling the Boomwhackers, especially if students will be using the floor.
3. Clap the Rhythm
When the eighth- and quarter-note patterns appear, students clap or tap their Boomwhackers together as they perform the rhythm shown on the screen.
Students who have only one Boomwhacker can tap it against an open palm. You can also have partners gently tap their Boomwhackers together. However, set up the expectations and make the call to whether they can do #3.
A Simple Lesson Sequence
Here is one way to introduce the activity:
Watch the video without instruments and have students track the soccer ball.
Speak or sing the pitch names together: E E G E D C B. You can also use the Part 1 video to sing it first on solfa.
Practice the melody slowly with the Boomwhackers.
Review how to roll the whole notes and clap the rhythm patterns.
Perform the complete video.
Switch Boomwhackers and play it again so students can experience a different part.
For an additional challenge, ask students to identify the note that occurs most often, find the largest melodic skips, or perform the pattern from memory after the video ends.
Pair It with the Solfa Edition
The original solfa version and this Boomwhacker edition work especially well together.
Begin with the solfa play-along so students can hear and sing the melodic relationships. Then use the Boomwhacker version to transfer those pitches to instruments:
La La Do′ La Sol Fa Mi
E E G E D C B
Students can compare the two versions and discover how the same melody can be represented with solfa syllables, letter names, and color-coded instruments.
You could also divide the class in half. One group sings the solfa while the other group plays the Boomwhackers, and then the groups switch.
Additional Classroom Possibilities
This play-along can be used as:
A full-class performance
A small-group activity
A music center or station
A review of letter names and melodic direction
A rhythm-reading activity
A lesson for a substitute teacher
A connection between singing and instrumental performance
You could also transfer the melody to xylophones, keyboards, recorders, or another classroom instrument.
Manipulatives
The manipulatives have been updated to include the Boomwhackers slides! You can find them here: https://buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech/e/564573
Ready to Play?
This Boomwhacker edition adds a colorful, hands-on experience to the original “Seven Nation Army” solfa and rhythm activity. Students must watch, listen, count, and work together—but the familiar music makes all that practice feel like play.
Grab the B, C, D, E, and G Boomwhackers, some triangles, clear a little space for rolling, and bring some stadium energy into your music room!