Transforming Lives . . . Building Community PDF
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Transforming Lives . . . Building Community through World Music Drumming Following are stories and comments from teachers who are teaching World Music Drumming. Feel free to use excerpts and attribute the stories to their authors by name and location (not e-mail address). Will Schmid ++++++++++++++++++++++++ In a message dated 10/7/06 10:29:44 AM, shoelaces!) began to echo Jerry. We teachers and aides applaud and give high fives and on we go. Jerry is so pleased with himself that we have to stop and clap for him and he laughs out loud. So on to the drums. I first got them out and a couple of kids wouldn't touch them and the rest just wanted to bang on them. So we worked that through and let the kids each explore them in their own way. From two weeks ago, we have gone from the aides getting the drums to the kids getting their own and carrying them really well and carefully. They sit like professionals (wish I could get my other classes to sit as well and consistently without attitude that soon!). We have gone from just making noise and saying each name to playing and saying their own name using both hands at once to, yesterday, Jerry got his arms to move independently and drummed his two syllable name Jer-ry with right-left. The cheering was spontaneous and he was SO happy. Jordan, who has made no sound this year, started yesterday to parrot a lot of the speech within the class as we drummed names and that guy is keeping a perfect beat on all the rhymes we do. The beat is all the same on all of them, but he keeps it right on!!!! Jerry is more interested in drumming the word rhythm so we have COMPLEMENTARY drumming going on! Summer, wheelchair bound and completely noncommunicative, responds more and more by waving her hands during the drumming. I cannot tell you appropriately in email or wouldn't be able to in person, what is going on here. I just know that these kids are responding to the drumming, to the spirit of it all, to the community of it all, to the sounds and rhythms, to the success building on success, to the physical movement, to the aural/oral teaching methods, to everything! They are more animated in music than in other areas at school. They are so obviously excited when I say it is time to get the drums so they know they are going to have a good experience. I am loving it! And I am flying by the seat of my pants just "reading" the kids and what they are responding to and expanding from there. Then, when I do some research or am looking through special needs learners literature, I am finding more that we can do to bring them out. It is truly incredible! Anyway, thanks again for the workshops and all you do with/for this curriculum. It is paying dividends in ways we will never be able to know or comprehend. Mary Dietz, Great Falls, MT +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In a message dated 12/15/06 8:23:14 PM, at the open house for the new addition to our school, we performed Peace with the choir for Veteran's Day and used the 6/8 pattern along with a selection called Welcome One and Welcome All for the opening of the choir concert. It worked out great! Had the drums across the front of the stage. We ended the Christmas choir concert with Peace - beautiful. The most rewarding part so far has been in creating ensembles, taping them and having the students assess their own playing. We have a small 8th grade semester general music class, so I have had more time with them. Two groups came up with such great original ensembles, that I had them be the leaders, and teach the class how to play their creations. One girl, who is pretty quiet did such a great job, showing the patterns to her classmates - you would have thought she was at the workshop this summer! The other group had a tough time teaching their ensemble, but the class finally got it & it sounded pretty cool! Also found some fun CD's to accompany the ensembles - the 6th & 7th graders like that. Our annual holiday talent show is next week - recruited a group of teachers, and other staff members for an adult ensemble - we are performing "Rock-It" & Jamaican Jingle Bells! Nancy Von Arx, Holmen, WI ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In a message dated 12/15/06 7:34:22 PM, In a message dated 12/16/06 10:17:04 AM, In a message dated 12/18/06 8:32:38 AM, They are in many ways very much like Jr. High. Most of them are 9th and 10th graders. They LOVE drumming! I think of you often. I use the curriculum so much. Our school is "Global Community High School". We have some kids who can "get down" on these drums!!! I am actually taking lessons from a hall monitor from Haiti. He is awesome. Love and peace to you, Jan Wickham, NV ++++++++++++++++++++++++ In a message dated 1/16/07 2:17:55 PM, ++++++++++++++++++++++++ In a message dated 2/16/07 10:15:36 PM, In a message dated 9/18/06 11:37:53 AM, RachNewell writes: I did your Amazing Grace at a funeral for a friend's husband last weekend and it was unbelievable. (Used contra bass bars and chimes, too.) Rachel Newell, Leesburg, VA +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In a message dated 9/18/06 11:45:48 AM, I have a Life Skills music class this year – a great bunch of kids who are essentially non-verbal with two in diapers. So what do we do – drum of course!! We have four kids and three aides and everyone’s busy all the time. They have made great strides in the three weeks we’ve been together. Today, the child we couldn’t get off of the floor and into a chair on the first day of class, played the drum unassisted for the first time. In the scheme of life it was pretty humbling. Pat Bauer, North Allegheny, PA ++++++++++++++++++++ In a message dated 9/18/06 6:37:48 PM, district office. My principal was very receptive to the idea, and made it a priority with the district. She is really seeing how the program is impacting and improving the learning of our students, so THANK YOU for introducing and continuing this program! Maureen McCoy Naperville, IL +++++++++++++++++++++ In a message dated 9/25/06 10:24:35 AM,
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