Mark Williams

More Cowbell was inspired by the famous television skit featuring a rock band, a record producer, and an over-zealous cowbell player. If the cowbell player is good at hamming it up (and rocking out!), you could try the following staging suggestions: Cowbell player plays with intensity and lots of movement, and starts moving in measure 17 toward the front of the band, ending up next to the conductor in measure 24, bowing to the audience on beat 4. Conductor gives a stern look and gestures to student to get back in the percussion section (possibilities: “slit throat” gesture with side of first finger followed by pointing forcefully to the back, or similar gestures). Student slinks back, starts playing cowbell again, but quietly this time. Playing gradually picks up intensity, and player starts again toward the front in measure 41, reaching the front by measure 48. In measure 48, either A) Conductor waves hands violently for student to stop, or B) have a couple of students place a large blanket over the cowbell player. This works, but only for one measure (player quits and doesn’t move in bar 49). Cowbell player resumes playing with a vengeance in measure 50 (either in spite of the teacher or under the blanket!). Make sure your new “rock star” takes another bow at the end of the piece. Have fun, and may your life always have more cowbell! Correlated with Accent on Achievement, Book 1, page 27.