lemi sticks

[lulubereal]

Can anyone give me information about Lemi Sticks. I want to teach my girls but don't have anyone to teach me. Is there anything out there that can teach me the songs and the patterns? Maybe a video?

[triplethreat]

I think they're called lummi sticks - this is a music education activity and there are lots of resources online if you do a google search. I believe there is at least 1 CD available.

[Marzz]

I used to LOVE Lummi Sticks! I haven't done them in forever though. If anyone finds a resource for them, please post the link here. I'll do a search too.

[Trees]

I love these, too! I could do them for hours. I'm singing the song in my head now, and I bet if I had some sticks, I could still do the pattern we learned about twelve years ago.

[c3divers]

Formation
Two players face each other, sitting cross-legged on the floor or ground. They must be close enough so that they can easily toss the sticks to each other. There should be no more than one foot between the players’ hands when their arms are extended As many pairs as wish to play can be scattered around the area. Each pair sings the song for itself, although for teaching purposes, it is advisable to have all pairs lean in unison.

Action
Hold the sticks perpendicular to the ground, about one-third of the way up. When tossing sticks to your partner, try to throw with a slight upward as well as forward thrust, keeping the sticks perpendicular to the ground.
In synchronization with the rhythm of the song, the following figures are beaten out, stick against the ground, and stick against stick.
Tap the Sticks
1 (a) Holding the sticks vertically in front of you, tab the lower ends on the ground.
(b) Tap the two sticks together.
(c) Then tap your right stick against your partner’s right stick.
(d) Repeat 1(a), (b), and (c), but tap your left stick against your partner’s left stick.
2 (a) Repeat 1(a) and (b).
(b) Tap your right stick against your partner’s right stick, and your left stick against your partner’s left stick without pausing.
(c) Repeat 2(a) and (b).
3 (a) Repeat 1(a) and (b).
(b) Tap both sticks against your partner’s sticks. Agree in advance who will tap from outside in and who will tap from inside out.
(c) Repeat 3(a) and (b).
Toss the Stick
4 Repeat figures 1 through 3, but toss the sticks to your partner instead of tapping the sticks. When tossing both sticks at once, agree who tosses on the inside and who tosses on the outside.
Toss the Sticks in Square
5 (a) Holding the sticks vertically, tap the lower ends on the ground, tap the two sticks together, and then toss the stick to your left hand to your right hand while simultaneously tossing the stick in your right hand to your partner’s left hand.
(b) Repeat this square pattern for the remainder of the music. Flip the Sticks
6 (a) Holding your right stick extended to the right side, tap the far end of the stick on the ground, flip the stick, catching it at the opposite end, and tap the far end again.
(b) Repeat 6(a), but with your left stick.
(c) Holding both sticks parallel to the ground in front of you, tap the far ends on the ground, flip the sticks, and tap the far end again.
(d) Holding both sticks against each other, then toss the stick in your right hand to your partner’s right hand, while your partner tosses the stick in his/her right hand to your right hand.
(e) Repeat (a) through (d), but players start with left stick and end by tossing their left stick to their partner’s left hand.
7 (a) Holding both sticks parallel to the ground to your sides, tap the ground with the ends farthest from you, flip the sticks as in 6(a), catch the sticks, and tap the far ends on the ground.
(b) Holding both sticks parallel to the ground in front of you, tap the ground with the far ends, flip the sticks in a circle, catch them, and tap the far ends again on the ground.
(c) Holding both sticks vertically, tap the ground with the lower ends, tap the sticks against each other, then toss the stick in your right hand to your partner’s right hand, while your partner tosses the stick in his/her right hand to your right hand.
(d) Repeat (c), but players toss their left stick to their partner’s left hand.
(e) Repeat (a) through (d).
Note
Each figure is repeated for one complete singing of the chant. Each figure, if correctly done, is completed at the end of a chant.

[Bearfoot]

I have a handout with the song and all of the movements for Lemi Sticks. I've attached the directions, but the music doesn't seem to be there.

If you're working with beginners, try using rolled up magazines or newspapers (fastened with masking tape). It's much quieter! I actually learned this trick from someone in New Zealand, home of Maori sticks.

By the way, they can be called Lemi, Lemmi, or Lummi sticks.

Good luck!