(A Brontobama Artic Jam)
They called it an Arctic Blast. The snow came fast.
By mid-morning, Brontobama was buried. The sidewalks vanished. The stage at the park disappeared under a thick white blanket. Even Raptor Rex had to admit it—no outdoor activities today.
The Brontos were officially snowed in.
Groovy stared out the frosted window.
“We could shovel,” she offered.
Silence.
Thumper twirled a drumstick. “Or not.”
And just like that, the Brontobama Arctic Blast began.
Game One: The Rhyming Snow Story
Raptor Rex cleared his throat. “Once there was a snowstorm wild and bright—”
Axe Raptor jumped in. “That kept us cooped up day and night—”
Luminera added softly, “But even storms can feel just right—”
“And turn our boredom into delight,” Groovy finished.
They went around in rhythm, building a storyline line by line. The sillier it became, the more fun it was. Soon they weren’t trapped—they were performing for each other.
Snow outside. Show inside.
Game Two: The Alphabet Challenge
T-Rhythm removed his famous hat and placed it on the table.
“Alphabet game,” he declared. “Describe the hat. One letter at a time.”
Rex started. “A — Adorable.”
Groovy followed. “B — Bold.”
Luminera smiled. “C — Classic.”
Thumper leaned forward. “D — Durable.”
Tim swooped in from the keyboard. “E — Exceedingly expressive.”
By the time they reached “M,” the hat had become magnificent, mysterious, mildly musical, and maybe even magical.
It wasn’t just a hat anymore.
It was legendary.
Game Three: Woodshedding Challenge
Then came the real magic.
Rex sang a low, melodic song. One they never heard before.
Luminera found a harmony above it.
Groovy slid underneath with a smooth bass line.
Tim layered a second harmony,
No instruments.
No sheet music.
Just instinct.
It was an old style of singing called woodshedding*—building impromptu harmonies on the fly. Listening first. Singing second.
Outside, the wind howled.
Inside, the Brontos blended.
Cabin Fever? Not Quite.
By afternoon, the snow was still falling.
But something had shifted.
They weren’t stuck inside. They were practicing creativity.
Sometimes being snowed in means being tuned in.
And if the snow keeps coming?
The Brontos will be ready.
Why is it called woodshedding?
- The Literal Meaning: The term stems from the practice of musicians taking their instruments to an outdoor woodshed, away from the main house, to avoid disturbing others with hours of repetitive, loud practice.
- Jazz and Blues Roots: It is closely tied to the development of jazz, particularly during the early 20th century, as a way for artists to hone their improvisational skills.
- Barbershop Music: In a different musical context, “woodshedding” refers to the art of harmonizing by ear, a practice that originated in early barbershop singing, where participants created harmonies on the spot without sheet music.
Today, the term is widely used across many musical genres to describe any intense, dedicated, and private practice session. Infosnacks
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