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 Rhythm Kids to begin this important all school initiative. Funded through a grant, the school purchased thirty drums and was ready to learn more about hand-drumming, more about drum circles and more about the Rhythm Kids methods of teaching children. George also wanted a school "chant" to emphasize "inclusion" a theme that the principal and staff wanted for a focus and asked Tom to write one for the school to use during meetings and assemblies. Rhythm Kids was asked to do a week long residency for the Hillside Elementary School.
Part 1 / Staff Training
Rhythm Kids facilitators Tom and Dan conducted a drum circle training with the entire Hillside staff that included an hour and a half of instruction and application. The staff learned basic hand-drumming technique and received the Rhythm Kids 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!)
° The staff at Hillside learned, and played, the Hillside chant on the drums and LOVED it!
Part 2 / Student Workshops
Half of the students 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 improvise on the drums. Tom taught several traditional African rhythms that the students could use in their own drum circles.
Results:
° The program was SO successful that Rhythm Kids was asked to come back to see that the entire student body participated in the workshops
° Children learned the Hillside Chant and even put it to rhythm on their drums!
Part 3 / 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 as a community 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 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 Rhythm Kids to begin your drumming program!
Phone: (888) 569-0712
Mail: PO Box 8 Concord, MA 01742
E-Mail: Contact Rhythm Kids
