When George Goneconto, a second grade teacher at Hillside Elementary School, had a vision for a "Drum-Up Character!" program to be centered around the school's theme of inclusion, he contacted Tom Foote at RhythmKids. Funded through a grant, the school purchased thirty Remo drums and was ready to learn more about hand-drumming and more about drum circles. George also wanted a school "chant" to emphasize the inclusion theme and asked Tom to write one for the school to use during meetings and assemblies.
SESSION I / STAFF TRAINING
Tom and Dan conducted a drum circle with the entire Hillside staff that included an hour and a half of instruction. The staff learned basic hand-drumming technique and received the RhythmKids recommended Drum Circle Guidelines handout and the Basic Drum Circle rhythms, written in box notation, to feel at ease beginning a drum circle.
RESULTS:
° Staff members got the chance to begin the drum circle and facilitate as well (they were awesome!)
SESSION II / WORKSHOPS
Half the school participated in workshops where instructors Tom and Dan lead drum circles as a model for the staff and for the students. Many children were given the opportunity to begin the drum circle and to even solo. Tom taught several traditional African rhythms that the students could use in their own drum circles.
RESULTS:
° The program was SO successful that RhythmKids was asked to come back to see that the entire school participated in the workshops
° Children learned the Hillside Chant and even put it to rhythm on their drums!
SESSION III / SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES
Tom and Dan were joined by Malian Master Drummer Moussa Traore for an assembly program for Hillside's 400 elementary students. We divided into two assemblies of 200 and instruments were provided for EACH student. The children were put into "villages" and, after a thunderous drum circle, selected a representative who was to challenge their soloing skills against Moussa (a lot of fun!).
RESULTS:
° Hillside got the opportunity to put all their learning together and had a blast drumming together
° By including Moussa, the children made the cultural connection to all they have been learning
CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO SEE AND TO HEAR MORE:
Drum-Up Character Page: http://hillside.needham.k12.ma.us/special_events/drum_up_character/drum_up_character.html
Hillside Podcasts with Workshops & Moussa: http://hillside.needham.k12.ma.us/hillside_school/podcasts/podcasts.htm
----------------
We can do the same thing for your school. Contact RhythmKids to begin your drumming program!
Phone: (888) 569-0712
Mail: PO Box 8 Concord, MA 01742
E-Mail: Contact RhythmKids
