Acoustic Rooster's Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume - Ages 5+
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Ages 5+
Illustration by Tim Bowers
Acoustic Rooster’s
Barnyard Boogie:
Starring Indigo Blume
PERFORMANCE GUIDE BY MARY RAND HESS
FEATURING COSTUME RENDERINGS BY ERIK TEAGUE
A musical guide to the world of characters and
stories created by Kwame Alexander
1
Musical Terms & Fantastical Facts:
Acoustic Rooster LOVES to Those gals really sang’ their
rock out on his acoustic guitar! hearts out!
The acoustic guitar is a popular Indigo, Dairy, and Chickee really
instrument in the string family, made have range (and we don’t mean
up of six steel strings and a hollow free range on the farm)!
wooden body. The vibrations of the
strings are amplified through the Like all the characters in the
guitar’s bridge and soundboard, giving musical, you can use your voice as
it that warm, sweet, melodic sound. an instrument, too. When you sing,
The acoustic guitar “sings” on its own… you are making music, thanks to
it does not need to be plugged into an something called vocal cords (aka
amplifier, like its sibling, the electric vocal folds) located in your voice box
guitar. In fact, just like Rooster, you can (aka larynx) inside the neck. There
play the acoustic guitar by simply using are no two voices just alike, so your
your fingers or a guitar pick to gently voice is a unique instrument to share
pluck the strings. And, you can take an with others, whether you are speaking,
acoustic guitar almost anywhere and reciting a poem, or singing a song. Just
everywhere you go. as an instrument must be tuned, so
must your voice. There are warmups
Mules TOOTS the trumpet. and special exercises to practice
to keep your voice healthy and
TOOT-TOOT! The trumpet is a lively performance ready. Don’t be afraid to
instrument in the brass family, full of set your voice free!
life and golden, rich sound. It’s been
around for a long time. In fact, this All that jazz!
instrument dates back over 3,500
years. So how does it get its snazzy, Jazz is a form of music developed
jazzy sound? A trumpeter “buzzes” by African Americans in the late
their lips as they blow into the nineteenth century. A blend of African
mouthpiece. The air vibrates down and European musical traditions, it is
the trumpet and the sound dances out truly an American cultural creation. It
of the bell. The trumpeter also uses is music that relies on rhythm with
fingers to press down on the valves “bent” and “blue” notes and a lot of
and pushes the slides back and forth improvisation. Improvisation means
to make just the right pitch and sound. that jazz performers often make up
Give it a try sometime! songs, or parts of songs, on the spot.
This is not an easy thing to do, but
Duck can really jam on it is a great deal of fun. Many jazz
that piano. songs also have “call and response” in
them, which has one musician calling
The piano is a musical instrument out with an instrument or voice, and
that has wire strings that make a another responding with a musical
sound when struck by felt-covered “answer.” It’s a conversation in a song.
hammers, which are moved after a Grab an instrument or use your voice
player taps the keys with their fingers. to scat, chat, sing, and jam with a
If you count all the black and white friend.
keys, you will notice there’s 88 in
total. There are also seven octaves! It
has the widest range of notes of any
instrument, and the songs you can
compose on the piano are endless.
The piano is versatile, and can be used
in every genre of music.
2
Musical Terms & Fantastical Facts:
The Hen from Ipanema… Let’s rock ’n’ roll! Hip hop until you don’t stop!
Bossa Nova is a mellow style of jazz Rock ’n’ roll, like jazz, is a popular Hip hop is a cultural movement that
that was created in Rio de Janeiro, music that comes out of the African- includes rap, poetry, dance, theatre,
Brazil, during the 1950s by artists American tradition. Musicians like literature, deejaying, visual arts (like
like Antônio Carlos Jobim and João Chuck Berry and Sister Rosetta Sharp graffiti), and fashion. It was born
Gilberto. It encompasses the African combined elements of jazz, R&B in the Bronx in New York City as a
rhythms and beats of samba, along (rhythm and blues), gospel, and uniquely African-American lifestyle of
with Portuguese lyrics and American country, then added electric guitars, expression and shared experiences, but
jazz music. It has a cool, laid-back, electric bass, drum kits, and keyboards the love for this cultural phenomenon
beachy vibe. The song “The Girl from to create this wild and intense musical has spread across the globe, loved and
Ipanema” by Antônio Carlos Jobim expression. Within rock ’n’ roll music, lived by kids and adults from Paris to
and Vinicius de Moraes was once the there are subgenres, too, such as Poland. We all love to hear a little flava
world’s most played song, just after classic rock, funk, punk, alternative, in ya ear.
the Beatles’ song, “Yesterday.” In our progressive, hard, indie, and heavy
musical, Acoustic Rooster performs metal. Like a rollercoaster ride, a
his own Bossa Nova tune called rock song is often fast paced with a
“Cucuricu,” which is inspired by the rise and fall of emotions. With electric
way Brazilians describe the sound a instruments and loud, booming vocals,
chicken makes. Acoustic Rooster, of rock music will NEVER put you to sleep.
course, says, “Cocka-doodle-doo!”
Did you hear Chickee rap?
Dairy’s songs are full of Squawk-a-dee!
southern charm and twang!
Rap is a unique American form
Country is a style of popular of music that uses rhythm, rhyme
American music that originated in the and spoken word performed over
south and west. Its roots are steeped an instrumental beat to express
in folk songs and ballads, often with a thought, tell a story, or share
a country twang. The instruments are an observation (and sometimes
varied, just like the voices of those who all three). With its roots in West
sing country songs. If you listen to a African storytelling, blues and jazz,
country music station or album, you’ll and African-American poetry, it was
often hear the steel guitar, bass, and created on the island of Jamaica and
drums…sometimes the autoharp, banjo, in the streets of New York City. It is
fiddle, and more. Country singers love one of the most popular music genres
to tell stories of hardships and woes today, and there are many new rap
in their songs. If you want to create artists that arrive on the scene each
something rewarding and entertaining year. The words they rap are just as
(it can also be funny), write about a important as the beats they create,
no-good-awful day and sing about it to and both will keep you thinking and
your family and friends. dancing, smiling and chanting! Just
ask Chickee!
3
Musical Terms & Fantastical Facts:
And we do it all with soul. We got some Go-go and some I’m singing about the Barnyard
BEBOP! Boogie…Barnyard Boogie Blues…
Soul music was born from blues
clubs, street corners, and Black Bebop, also known as “bop,” is a Boogie is a style of blues that is
churches. When gospel songs and style of instrumental jazz music that usually played on the piano with a
melodies were changed into secular combines a lot of improv and has a repetitive rhythm and groove, and a
lyrics for everyone to sing, regardless unique sound that falls somewhere fast, strong beat to keep the energy
of religion, the result was this new between cool jazz and big band swing. alive and moving. The word “boogie”
vocal-driven music. It is often a It has a fast tempo, and includes is also used to describe dancing to
mixture of up-tempo rhythm-and- instruments such as the piano, one to popular pop, rock, jazz, or blues music.
blues and has an expressiveness three trumpets or saxophones, drums, Let’s boogie!
that is contagious. It has strongly and a double bass. The unpredictable
influenced other genreslike R&B, funk, rhythms and challenging harmonies of You are amazing, you are so cool…
dance music, and HipHop. Soul music leading Bebop musicians like Charlie
is good for your soul. “Bird” Parker and Sonny Rollins always A ballad is a narrative verse that can
keeps listeners (and other musicians) either be a poem or become a song.
Pick It Up! on their toes. When a ballad is a song, it usually
has a slower tempo with lyrics that
Did you know the song “Pick It Up” I’ve got the blues over the news. tell stories of love or difficult times.
in the musical is a Go-go piece? Ballads make beautiful, heartfelt songs
Go-go originated in Washington, and tend to be packed with emotions.
Blues is a form of folk music originally
D.C., in the 1970s. It is said to have Have a Kleenex nearby because
created in the south in the early 20th
been created by guitarist and singer sometimes ballads can make you cry.
century out of the field hollers, work
Chuck Brown. It has a sound that is
songs, and spirituals of enslaved
influenced by salsa, funk, soul, and
African-American. This expressive
blues. Its rhythm and heavy use of
vocal and lyrical genre, often with a
drumming on percussion instruments
somber tone, uses an electric guitar
(including congas) make this music
and metal slide for a soulful effect,
undeniably enjoyable to listen to, as
and has had a strong influence on jazz,
you try to keep up with the colorful
rhythm and blues, rock ’n’ roll, and
beat. A Go-go band has multiple
country music. While country singers
percussionists, keyboard players, and
tell stories, blues singers express the
a string and horn section. There are
anguish and the hopes. Some people
often call and response sessions in
might say, “I’m kind of blue,” when
these songs involving the audience.
they’re feeling down, and this kind of
The beat in this style of music can
music does a great job of expressing
go on for hours and hours because
the blues.
listeners just can’t get enough.
4
The characters from Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: Starring
Indigo Blume are inspired by some real-life legends. Read on!
Miles Davis: Duke Ellington: Dolly Parton:
“Do not fear mistakes. “A problem is a chance to do “Find out who you are. And do
There are none.” your best.” it on purpose.”
The character Mules Davis was created Duck Ellington is the lovable, quirky In our musical, the character Dairy
because of the famous jazz trumpeter, animal version of the great Edward Parton is our “hats off” to the country
flugelhorn player, composer, and Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (April music legend and actress, Dolly Parton
bandleader, Miles Dewey Davis III (May 29, 1899-May 24, 1974), an American (born January 19, 1946). She is known
26, 1926-September 28, 1991). When Miles pianist, big-band leader, composer, for her number one country hits like
was 13, his father introduced him to the and arranger. Duke was born in “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,”
trumpet. He began to take lessons and Washington, D.C., and raised by and “9 to 5.” She is also famous for her
was soon hooked on practicing, learning musically gifted parents. By the age of sparkly boots and clothes, her love of
everything he could about this instrument. seven, he was taking piano lessons. It books (having founded Imagination
He started playing professionally in was during this time that he landed Library), and her amusement park called
high school, and by age 17 was invited to the nickname Duke because of his Dollywood. Dolly grew up one of twelve
perform on stage with jazz artists Dizzy polished manners. He composed his children in rural Appalachia, where
Gillespie and Charlie Parker. He enrolled first song at 15 and started playing she learned how to sing and play the
in The Juilliard School (once known as the music professionally by age 17. Many guitar from her mom and other family
Institute of Musical Art), but eventually of his songs have become American members. She started performing at
dropped out to pursue his jazz career standards, like “I Got it Bad and church at a young age, and not too long
full-time. Miles ended up becoming one That Ain’t Good,” “Take the A Train,” after she received her first guitar from a
of the most celebrated jazz artists of and “In A Sentimental Mood.” He relative, she began composing her own
the twentieth century, releasing dozens performed in Broadway nightclubs, tunes. By age ten, she was performing
and dozens of albums. He was always toured in Europe, and made hundreds on television and radio shows. She even
willing to grow and change with the times, of song recordings with his bands. debuted at the Grand Ole Opry at just
and his innovative and improvisational The originator of big-band jazz, he 13 years old. Once she graduated high
musical style ensured that he would be was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer school, she moved to Nashville to chase
remembered as a jazz G.O.A.T. (greatest Prize Special Award for music in 1999 her dream of becoming a country music
of all time). His music is still played and and is considered one of the greatest star. She has since won many awards
celebrated by countless listeners today. musicians in the history of jazz. and written thousands of songs, even for
Check out his album Kind of Blue, the most Another G.O.A.T. other recording artists. She continues to
popular and bestselling jazz album of ALL make country music history by creating
TIME, to get a feel for how cool Miles albums and singing her songs before
Davis’ music was and still is…even today! millions of fans.
5
The characters from Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: Starring
Indigo Blume are inspired by some real-life legends. Read on!
Nicki Minaj: Acoustic Rooster: Indigo Blume:
“Your victory is right around “Luck is good, but believing in “When we’re together, there’s
the corner. Never give up.” yourself...waaaaay better.” nothing that we can’t do.”
Chickee Minaj is the vibrant and Acoustic Rooster uses his voice and Indigo Blume is based on brave
confident character based on the acoustic guitar to share his music. young people like you who want to
strong and proud Onika Tanya His character is inspired by a mix accomplish amazing things on this
Maraj-Petty, aka Nicki Minaj of gifted musicians, just like all the earth…like keeping your community
(born December 8, 1982). Nicki is a musical genres he performs onstage clean and green, growing a rooftop
Trinidadian-born singer, songwriter, with his band. His talent, confidence, garden of dreams, or sharing your
and actress known for her bold lyrics leadership, and showmanship fall musical and artistic talents with
and fire-rapid rap style. When she somewhere between American family and friends. Remember, you
was around five years old, her family bassist Jaco Pastorius and American are a star wherever you decide to
moved from Trinidad to Queens, New jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. If shine in this world!
York, where she started writing her Acoustic Rooster gave you some
first rap songs. As she embarked on advice, it would be to practice
her music career, she worked as a whatever you love to do and believe
backup singer at first, but ended up in yourself.
taking center stage. All her hard work
and talent paid off, as she has won
eight American Music Awards, twelve
BET Awards, seven BET Hip Hop
Awards…the list goes on. She has been
called the Queen of Rap and it looks
like she might hold on to that title.
The music in this musical is meant to make you snap your fingers, sing along, smile from ear to ear, and
throw your hands in the air and wave'em like you just don't care. This is a get up and dance show, people!
-Randy Preston, Composer
6
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