World Drumming!
Ms. Kozuch’s Classroom
- 6th grade
- East Windsor Middle School
- Broad Brook, CT
My Students
The students at my school are people who I love to be with every day. They challenge me daily to be a better teacher, and a better person. Our district was recently designated a Title I District, which fortunately means that the students are going to get more of the services they need as time goes on. It also indicates a breadth of challenging issues that weigh on their young minds and affect their daily lives. Children regularly come to school lacking proper nutrition, clothing, hygienic necessities, and emotional or academic support. Many are also dealing with unstable living situations. Academic scores suffer, and teachers are working tirelessly to find out what we can do for these kids to make a difference in their lives.
Despite the very real problems within the community at large affecting these kids, they show a resilience that is so characteristic and special to children.
They come in to my class with an eagerness and curiosity to learn and explore my subject, music. They are simply exploding with personality! I want to create a program that satisfies their curiosity and gives them some tools they can use to become successful and productive members of society.
My Project
World Music Drumming is a highly popular, dynamic curriculum that is changing General Music programs across the USA. Will Schmidt, its creator, traveled to many different countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America to learn and experience culturally authentic practices which are part of every lesson taught to students.
The first thing students learn is that a drum circle in African culture is a place of respect and unity.
Next, the students learn how to drum using the African tubano drums, which form the heart of the ensemble. Every new song or lesson that the students learn is also infused with a lesson on African, Caribbean, or Latin American culture. Students will learn about a culture very different than their own while at the same time learning the principles of teamwork and focus – all through the medium of drumming. Ensembles grow to include authentic hand-held percussion such as guiros and gankogui. Some of the songs students will learn to play are “Take Time in Life” (Liberian), an adaptation of a royal Ghanaian drum performance, and Má Teodora (Cuban).
Our school will benefit tremendously from this enriching curriculum using the Festival Drum Tubano drums, and I am so hopeful that we can finally bring it to the students!
Where Your Donation Goes
3 donors have given to this project.
This project will reach 100 students.