THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 7, 1997 TAG: 9702070091
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 102 lines
PA TA. GO DO. Goom Doom. That's the language they speak on Saturdays - the language of drummers.
It's translated in the beat of the drums by 15 youngsters from four Portsmouth middle schools who play in a special percussion ensemble organized last October as the Rhythm Project.
Every Saturday, they practice in a second-floor room on downtown High Street. By the time they perform at the opening ceremony for the Virginia Waterfront International Festival in the Nauticus Pavilion at 6 p.m. April 24, they will have invested more than six months of Saturdays in this special pilot project of Festival Education Outreach.
``Usually on Saturdays, I just sit home and watch television,'' said Joy Vinson, 13, a Waters Middle School student. ``This is something I want to do.''
Vinson, who plays bass clarinet in the school band, said her father plays African drums and she ``always liked to play on them.'' Now she's learning the right way to do it, she said.
``You don't have to bang,'' J.C. Carter told the students. ``This is as simple as walking.''
Carter, 60, retired from the U.S. Air Force at Langley, stayed in the area and at age 56 received a degree in music from Hampton University. Assisted by drummer Amir Muttee of Norfolk, Carter is teaching the Saturday drummers.
``These kids are remarkable,'' Carter said. ``When I hear them, it's worth more than my Saturdays.''
Carter grew up in Passaic, N.J., ``before they cut off Radio Cuba.''
``I was sick and had to stay in bed for a year, so I listened all night to the radio,'' he said. ``I liked the beat of the drums, and I started banging on pans and tables. I didn't have the luxury these kids have of drums and instructors.''
Festival director Robert W. Cross, who was sitting in with the drummers on a recent Saturday, said this project and all events for students during the festival are aimed at getting students and their families involved.
The Portsmouth General Hospital Foundation supplied $28,000 for the percussion group. J. Scott Jackson, coordinator of the festival's outreach program, is, like Cross, a professional percussionist with the Virginia Symphony.
``This is tangible and involves students,'' Cross said. ``They are here of their own volition. It's a non-threatening learning experience.''
For most of the youngsters, the percussion group is a way to expand their musical knowledge. All are members of middle school bands.
``When our band director told me about it, I thought it was a good opportunity to learn about percussion,'' said 12-year-old Glenn Arkin.
He plays alto sax in the Cradock Middle School band and said he has thought of a career in music.
``I wouldn't mind being in the symphony,'' he said.
Keith Moone, 13, also a Cradock student, already plays the trumpet and plans to be a professional musician.
``This is good experience,'' he said. ``And, anyway, there's nothing going on on Saturday, so I like being here.''
For Jared Hoernig, 13, of Churchland Middle School and Dwan Perry, 13, of Waters Middle School the Saturday classes and rehearsals are adding to their knowledge of the percussion instruments they play in their school bands.
``It's a neat idea,'' Hoernig said.
``I like the sound of it,'' Perry added.
The students practice hand-drumming one week and steel-drumming on alternate weeks.
The middle school students will journey one by one to elementary schools with Jackson, who will demonstrate a variety of drums and how they are used.
Keith Moone was the first to perform publicly, appearing at Highland Biltmore School recently. Moone came to the program with a head start. He had learned to play steel drums in a Portsmouth summer program two years ago.
``We feel that if we go to the elementary schools this year, those who will be at the middle schools next year will be interested in becoming involved,'' Jackson said.
At Highland Biltmore, the students were extremely responsive to Jackson's presentation, which included an audience-participation segment. The youngsters participated by clapping and quickly caught on to clapping loud or soft and stopping and starting on cue from Jackson.
To reach the students, Jackson said he is working with Young Audiences of Virginia. Many of the performers booked for the 18-day festival have agreed to arrive early for student matinees, master classes and workshops.
Performances are scheduled in Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Hampton, and students will be offered substantial discounts to encourage their participation.
For more information about Festival Education Outreach, call Young Audiences of Virginia at 466-7555. ILLUSTRATION: color photos
MARK MITCHELL/The Virginian-Pilot
Above, J. Scott Jackson instructs Portsmouth student drummers. At
left, Keith Moone practices with the 15-member group
PERFORMANCES
The Rhythm Project ensemble is scheduled to perform several times
in addition to appearing at the opening festivities of the Virginia
Waterfront International Festival.
The student group will make its public debut in Norfolk at
Waterside at noon Feb. 22.
During the festival, the group will play at the Festival Gala at
The Chrysler Museum in Norfolk at 6 p.m. May 4 and at the
International Weekend activities on 22nd Street in Virginia Beach
about 1 p.m. May 10.