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Community Corner

Buckets of Fun for Herndon ES Students

Herndon Elementary School students signed up by the bucket load to take part in an 8 week after school bucket drumming program called “Percussion Works”.  

The Council for the Arts of Herndon, in conjunction with the Nelson J. and Katherine Friant Post Foundation and The Music Loft of Herndon, has initiated this program to help students at Herndon Elementary school use the Arts, specifically Music, to help develop their understanding of critical math skills while encouraging musical experimentation.  The program enhances academic performance in the classroom while building important interdisciplinary skills such as fine and gross motor skills, verbal and math skills and working cooperatively in a group setting.

 This is part of an educational plan called STEM to STEAM.  STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and STEAM adds the word ART.  Why is there a STEM TO STEAM movement?  Because as our children grow, they will need critical math and technology skills along with creativity to solve the problems of the future. Percussion Works is one of the ways we can encourage children to understand math better, and encourage their creativity in the arts.

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The percussion works program is designed to reach all learners at a universal level. Percussion is something everyone can participate in, no matter what their educational background, or skill set is.  Every child can play a bucket with sticks, which made the program inclusive instead of exclusive.  Percussion Works provides high -caliber learning opportunities and fun for all.  

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The Music Loft’s owner, Laura Readyoff, supervised the program.  Teachers Ashley Birman and Alex Arshadi used innovative teaching methods to inspire the students. One of the pieces Ms. Birman created called “Rain”, simulated a rain storm by striking different parts of the buckets to create a soft rain which then rose to a crescendo of huge storm and then disappearing again.

Mr. Arshadi had the students rocking with a piece called “Bucket Rock” where the students broke out into drum stick tricks!  Two of his students composed their own piece as well.

The “Percussion Works” group performed at the Herndon Festival as well as the Herndon elementary school day and evening concert.

The Council for the Arts looks forward to expanding the after school program to other local Herndon area schools.

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