September Rhythm Fun with Boomwhackers & Earth, Wind & Fire!

It’s that time of year again… September! 🍂 Whether your students are watching the leaves change or welcoming spring on the other side of the globe, one song always comes to mind this month: Earth, Wind & Fire’s September.

This classic groove is irresistible—and now your students can experience it through a Boomwhacker & Rhythm Play-Along video! I originally began creating an October parody (“Do you remember, the 31st day of October…” complete with pumpkin spice coffee references ☕🎃), but I couldn’t resist making a play-along for the original first.

🎶 Musical Concepts Covered

This play-along reinforces a wide range of music skills:

• Boomwhacker notes: D, E, A, and B

• Boomwhacker rolls (roll inside a triangle for four counts!)

• Note values: quarter, eighth, whole notes, and quarter rests

• Dynamics: p, mp, mf, f, crescendo, and decrescendo

• Form: Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Verse, Chorus, Chorus, Bridge 2, Chorus, Dance Party

🥁 Teaching & Performance Ideas

This activity works beautifully with pitched and non-pitched instruments, and it’s flexible enough for any classroom setup. Try these approaches:

1. Start small – focus only on the body percussion/non-pitched part.

2. Add expression – repeat while focusing on dynamics.

3. Layer it in – perform the rhythm play-along with the video.

4. Move to pitched parts – use Boomwhackers, barred instruments, recorders, bells, voices, or even virtual Boomwhackers (https://www.musick8.com/boomwhackers/playboomwhackers.php?bwswitch=true).

5. Combine & refine – put pitched and non-pitched parts together with the video.

6. Switch roles – let students rotate between pitched and non-pitched groups.

7. Break into sections – assign groups to Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge (1 and 2), or Dance Party to reduce sound in larger classes and give everyone a turn.

🌟 Extension Ideas

• Use the manipulatives from my BuyMeACoffee page (https://buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech/extras) to reinforce patterns and share 10 fun facts about Earth, Wind & Fire with your students.

• Create a mini “concert” performance where groups perform their assigned sections for each other.

🎉 The Goal?

Have fun making music together, celebrating one of the most iconic songs of all time, and sneaking in tons of learning while your students are dancing, clapping, and playing along!