40 Best Boomwhacker Songs & Games For Kids (UPDATED)

There are few instruments that get kids excited for playing that also make great tools for practicing reading music, singing in parts and harmony, and don’t break the bank to purchase. Perhaps this is why boomwhackers have a stranglehold on the market! 

Now, if you’ve ever had a conversation with me about boomwhackers, you’ll know that I’m not a HUGE fan. I like them. I think they’re a great tool. I think they can be overused and don’t make a wonderful sound. I prefer to use handbells where possible. There are colored ones that fit the bill perfectly and do all of the same things as boomwhackers. 

However, there are more expensive, a little tougher to use, and—worst of all—nowhere near as durable. With your younger students, you’ll definitely want something more like boomwhackers for playing specific pitches. Either way, handbells or boomwhackers, you’ll need some good songs to do them with. With this in mind, I picked 25 of the best boomwhacker songs and games for kids that I’ve used in my classroom. Skip around and find the ones you like the most! 

Note: This is an updated (and much-added-to) post from 2023. At the end of the post, I included the previous article for your viewing pleasure! 

#1 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Tone Set: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la
Difficulty: Medium-low
Suggested Grade: Third grade

There aren’t many songs more iconic for reading and melody reading than this one! This one is perfect for its simple and slow rhythm; plus, everyone knows it! Watch out for those Fa (f), but other than that, it’s a great one. 

#2 Star Light Star Bright

Tone Set: mi, sol, la
Difficulty: Easy!
Suggested Grade: First grade

This is one of the first melodies we read in first grade with boomwhackers. Using only three pitches. It’s perfect and easy to plop in with colors and feel super successful! 

#3 Let Us Chase The Squirrel

Tone Set: do, re, mi, sol
Difficulty: Medium-low
Suggested Grade: Second grade

I typically use this song to do double duty: teach half note AND re when singing in an early pentatonic. Plus, this game has a super fun chase component to it. It’s a staple in my second grade classroom. 

#4 Button You Must Wander

Tone Set: do, re, mi, sol, la
Difficulty: Medium
Suggested Grade: Third grade

The pitches aren’t the issue with this song. The bigger issue is how the notes jump around and the song is much longer than you would typically use. But don’t let that discourage you! Kids need to build the endurance and grit to do hard things! 

#5 Ickle Ockle Blue Bottle

Tone Set: do, mi, sol, la
Difficulty: Easy
Suggested Grade: Second Grade

If you’re following the typical Kodaly scope and sequence for elementary music, you will likely be covering sol-mi-la in first grade before introducing do in second. This is a great song for that purpose, and it’s a fun one to play on your boomwhackers, too! 

#6 I Have Lost The Closet Key

Tone Set: do, re, mi
Difficulty: Easy
Suggested Grade: Second Grade

Whether you start first grade with sol-mi or second grade with do-re-mi, Closet Key is the perfect song to read with beginning readers. Hot Cross Buns—move over! I think Closet Key is way more interesting. The only slightly tough part about it is that it’s not all stepwise motion. But that’s an easy one to get over! 

#7 Boer, Boer (Farmer, Farmer)

Tone Set: A section – do, re, mi, fa, sol; B section – low sol, low la, low ti, do, re
Difficulty: Medium-hard
Suggested Grade: Kindergarten

What?! Are you crazy?!?! I hear, I hear you. And yes, I am. But not about this song for Kindergarten. What I suggest is NOT to read the melody. I want you to practice macro (dotted quarter in this case) and micro (triplet eighths) beats either on Do or a Do-Sol pattern. Just because a song is tough to read doesn’t mean the little shouldn’t do it! 

#8 Who’s That? (GAME)

Tone Set: do, re, mi, sol
Difficulty: Medium-low
Suggested Grade: Second grade

This is a great tune for teaching half notes and re, and it also makes the perfect song for boomwhackers. I like to split the kids in two groups and have them call and respond with the question and answer in the song. 

#9 Long Legged Sailor

Tone Set: do, re, mi
Difficulty: low
Suggested Grade: Third 

Here’s why I do this song in third grade: I use this to help teach the C chord on ukulele! Since, I’m already using it for this purpose, I just keep the fun all in third grade. Try splitting the class into two groups, one for ukulele and one for melody on boomwhackers. Then, record and share for a crazy, fun video that parents (and admin) will love. 

#10 All Around The Brickyard (GAME, IMPROV)

Tone Set: low sol, do, re, mi, sol
Difficulty: medium
Suggested Grade: Third

Besides the low sol, I use this song for improvisation. After singing the song, students count to 8 for an improv section. On xylophones, they can play any pitches in the pentatonic scale. With boomwhackers, they can improv with rhythms over the 8 beats. 

#11 Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow

Tone Set: do, re, mi, fa, sol
Difficulty: Medium-hard
Suggested Grade: Fourth

I save this song for fourth grade because it fits my solfege sequence, but also because this is when I really dig into 6/8 meter. The chord changes also make this a perfect tune for using with ukuleles, something I also work on in 4th grade. 

#12 Shosheen Sho

Tone Set: do, re, mi
Difficulty: Easy
Suggested Grade: Second

I love this lullaby and sang it to my kids when they were babies. I prefer this song with handbells, and if you have both, use it to compare and discuss which your students best fit the song. 

#13 Simple Gifts

Tone Set: low sol, low ti, do, re, mi, fa, sol,
Difficulty: Hard
Suggested Grade: Fifth grade+

I adore this song with kids. I even do a simple (pun intended) folk dance with a parachute with it. It’s really fun, and it’s a great connection with other, more advanced, music. However, it’s tough. But tough things are worth the work. (Again, handbells excel here.)

#14 Draw A Bucket Of Water

Tone Set: low sol, do, re, mi
Difficulty: Medium
Suggested Grade: Third grade

I usually use this song to teach eight-two-sixteenth, but it’s simple melody also works well with boomwhackers. Plus, it has a wonderful little play party to add to the song! 

#15 Let’s Build A Snowman

Tone Set: mi, sol
Difficulty: Super easy
Suggested Grade: First grade

It doesn’t get much easier than this, but it serves as a great example to kids of how reading music can help you learn how to play songs on instruments. 

#16 We Are The Leaves Of The Tree

Tone Set: la, ti, do, re, mi
Difficulty: Medium
Suggested Grade: Third grade

I LOVE this canon and use it during my third graders’ Arbor Day program. Add some boomwhackers in a moving ostinato (D-D-C-C-D-D-D) or play the melody for a cool new twist on the song. 

#17 Mouse, Mousie

Tone Set: do, mi, sol
Difficulty: Easy
Suggested Grade: Second

Mouse, Mousie is a fun chasing game, and this song is perfect for outlining the major chord. 

#18 Busy Buzzy Busy Bee

Tone Set: do, re, mi, fa sol, la
Difficulty: Easy
Suggested Grade: First grade

Put students in a circle and give one a bumblebee puppet. They buzz around the room and at the end, they tap another student on the shoulder. Then, this student gets to be it. The melody is a little complex for such a simple song, so I usually just stick with the beat for the boomwhackers.

#19 See Saw

Tone Set: mi, sol, la
Difficulty: Easy
Suggested Grade: First grade

Just like this last one, this is a perfect sol-mi-la to get first graders reading rhythm and pitch at the same time. 

#20 Froggy In The Meadow

Tone Set: do, mi, sol, la
Difficulty: Easy
Suggested Grade: Second grade

I typically bring this one back in second grade from it’s easy steady beat game in Kindergarten. I use it as an “unknown song” to practice half notes and do. 

#21 Apple Tree

Tone Set: do, mi, sol, la
Difficulty: Easy
Suggested Grade: First grade

While the melody of this song is a little beyond first grade, I prefer to use it in first grade. For this one, we stick with an ostinato played on the major chord or just sol-mi played at the same time. 

#22 Yo Ho, I Pull The Anchor

Tone Set: la, ti, do, re, mi, high la
Difficulty: Easy OR Medium-Hard
Suggested Grade: Kindergarten OR Third grade

This is a fun little minor melody I like to use to reinforce steady beat in Kindergarten. If you’re sticking with this, than you can play boomwhackers in Kindergarten. If you want to read the melody, sticking with third grade would make more sense.

#23 Pass The Pumpkin

Tone Set: la, do, mi, fa
Difficulty: Easy or Medium
Suggested Grade: Any grade

I use this song for ALL grades during the Halloween season. In the younger grades, we simply play the beat or a rhythm ostinato. In the upper grades, we work on mastering the melody. 

#24 Noble Duke Of York

Tone Set: low sol, low la, ti, do, re, mi, fa
Difficulty: Hard
Suggested Grade: Fourth

Yes, I am infamous for playing this folk dance in Kindergarten and First Grade. But for the melody and with boomwhackers, this is doable with Fourth grade on up. Just be prepared for a workout! 

#25 Mary Had A Little Lamb

Tone Set: do, re, mi, sol
Difficulty: Medium-Easy
Suggested Grade: Third

I love to align this song with xylophones, boomwhackers, ukuleles, and—yes—even recorders. The simple melody is great for reinforcing second-grade concepts, but it can be built out to create an excellent soundscape. 

Check out some other boomwhacker lesson plans here! 

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NOTE: See the old article below for your reading pleasure!

Boomwhackers are one of the best (and cheapest) instruments for use in Elementary Music classrooms. 

These colorful and pitched tubes are an awesome way to teach: 

• Steady beat
• Rhythm
• Melody
• Beginning chords
• And much more! 

But just having them doesn’t make a lesson. You need songs to play them with. 

This is why I went through my resources and experiences for the past 10+ years to develop this list of 15 boomwhacker songs to use in your music classroom right now!

1. Johnny Works With One Hammer
2. Pitter Patter
3. Ickle Ockle Blue Bottle
4. Bow Wow Wow
5. Wake Up, You Lazy Bones
6. The Wheels On The Bus
7. We Don’t Talk About Bruno
8. Down By The Bay
9. De Colores
10. The Lion Sleeps Tonight
11. Super Mario
12. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
13. London Bridge Is Falling Down
14. Ghostbusters
15. Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)

5 Songs For Keeping A Steady Beat or Rhythm Ostinato With

The first way I use boomwhackers is as a tool for practicing rhythm and steady beat. 

It’s another instrument to replace a drum, rhythm sticks, or other egg shakers. 

Yeah, it kind of misses out on the whole pitched aspect of the instrument, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

And it’s also a great time to safely cover your classroom procedures for playing this instrument. 

I often suggest: 

• Playing them together (if they have two)
• Tapping one on their hand like they’re clapping
•  Patting one or both on the floor
• Patting one on each student’s shoe

Warning! As plastic tubes, these don’t have great durability. Ensure your students don’t slam them, or they will crumple and eventually break. 

Johhny Works With One Hammer

This song is my go-to for a steady beat. 

It’s a fun additive song and needs no introduction. 

Further Reading: List of additive songs for music class

With boomwhackers, I have students add different colors of boomwhackers until we have the whole pentatonic scale covered. 

Pitter Patter

Here’s a steady beat song perfect for younger kids. 

With this one, I also like to have students play the rhythm of the words instead of just the steady beat. 

This is a great precursor or practice for differentiating between rhythm and steady beat. 

Ickle Ockle Blue Bottle

I love movement games, and Ickle Ockle is one of my faves. 

Not only does it prepare students with a strong steady beat, but it also prepares them for understanding quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests. 

But on top of this, you’ll also be making them aware of songs with sol, mi, la, and do. 

Yes, you bet this one comes back with boomwhackers when it’s time to play some melodies! 

In terms of beat and rhythm, I’ll hand out the do, mi, sol tubes of whatever key you decide to sing it in. 

I like to use a rhythm ostinato here too. It goes like this: 

Fishes in the sea. (rest)

The rhythm would be “titi titi ta rest” or “paired eighth notes + paired eighth notes + quarter note + quarter rest.”

Bow Wow Wow

The kids love to play this song and make different dog noises. 

For boomwhackers, this is a perfect time to practice quarter rests with big dramatic rest gestures. 

Wake Up, You Lazy Bones

I love changing tempi in music. 

It’s one of the best ways to engage students in repeating folk songs for a deeper understanding of musical concepts. 

But this song already has it built in! 

Check out the whole Wake Up, You Lazy Bones song and game here at the link. 

5 Songs For Playing Boomwhackers As Chords

Chords are the place I find boomwhackers to be the most useful for older kids. 

Sure, we can play melodies with them too, but it becomes much tougher. 

On the other hand, chords are shown really well through the colors of these instruments. 

Here are a few varying difficulties to check out. 

The Wheels On The Bus

It stays pretty simple here with this one. We’re only talking about two chords, but even in today’s age of little singing done at home, most kids still know this one. 

We Don’t Talk About Bruno

I don’t know how long this song will stay relevant, but I’m going to lean into it while I still can! 

Here’s a fun play-along that may be advanced for some of your students, but I bet the engagement factor will help them find the grit to learn it to some degree. 

Down By The Bay

I LOVE Down By The Bay. 

I remember my Grandma singing this to me when I was little, and I’ve taught it ever since. 

This song uses three chords, and if you taught this in second grade, it makes a great connection with what they’ve done before when you bring it back to talk about chords.

Check out the chords and lyrics here.

De Colores

De Colores is a beautiful Hispanic song that captures kids’ attention despite being fairly slow. 

The chords change slowly, so it’s not a big deal to follow this play-along video, even though it’s meant for the ukulele. 

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

I’ve loved using this song to teach chords ever since my Music Education Professor, Dr. Alan Gumm, had us teach it to a middle school choir during a classroom visit. 

It’s amazing how quickly this song gets people to sing and understand chords a little better. 

The Lion Sleep Tonight transfers well to boomwhackers, and this video does a great job of modeling how you may want to teach the chords as groups instead of getting too much into the nitty gritty of chord structures at first. 

5 Songs For Playing Boomwhackers As Melody

Melody and advanced licks are where viral videos and such come in. 

In reality, these are pretty tough to do, but with so many play-along videos, many of the harder ones become much more accessible. 

Super Mario

This one doesn’t line up perfectly, but it does a pretty good job of outlining the main melody without getting too tricky with the rhythms. 

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

This simple melody is an ideal tune for a first experience with the challenges of playing the melody with boomwhackers. 

It’s something everyone knows, and the melody is largely slow. 

London Bridge Is Falling Down

This one is just like Twinkle Twinkle, but it’s a little bit tougher in terms of rhythm. 

This would make a good second or third experience with melody on the boomwhackers. 

Ghostbusters

The Ghostbusters theme song is still one that most kids know.

From the reboot to the simply catch song, it’s great all around! 

This play-along is awesome. 

It features a bass line, chords, AND a melody. 

This is beyond basic music theory for elementary. 

You’ll be able to teach music theory elements easily if you keep doing stuff like this! 

This gives your students a chance to try everything! 

It also allows you to place students where they’ll be the most successful. 

Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)

I worked at a middle school semi-honor’s band camp last summer, and one of the visiting groups they had come in was a steel drum group. 

One of the songs they played was this one: The Banana Boat Song. 

I didn’t think many kids would know it. Instead, almost the whole camp of 200 students burst out into song. 

Why? Apparently, the movie Beetlejuice is back in popularity for its edgy themes. 

This surprised me a bit, but you know what? I’m gonna take advantage of my students’ interests wherever I can. 

Not at all to my surprise, there was a great boomwhacker play-along I’m looking forward to trying. I hope you do too!