
DATE: Friday, October 10, 1997              TAG: 9710080157

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 22   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEWIS KRAUSKOPF, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   73 lines

REGGAE BAND TREATS CHILDREN TO A LESSON IN MUSIC AND LIFE

NO ICE CREAM, no cry?

If you drove by the KinderCare Learning Center on Cedar Road on Sept. 26, you might have heard the mellow grooves and thumping bass that is the signature of reggae music. That is, if you could discern the music over the wailing of 120 young children.

The dreadlocked members of Scholars Word, a fledgling reggae band from Tampa, Fla., dropped in on the child-care facility to give back to Hampton Roads, from where two of the members hail.

``We want to play not just for adults in a bar situation, but for children who don't always get to hear you,'' said bassist Michael Stauch. Stauch hails from Virginia Beach, percussionist David Cuffee from Chesapeake.

And KinderCare teachers saw the afternoon concert as a chance to expand the musical and social horizons of the youngsters.

``We try to expose them to not just the same kind of music and the same kind of people,'' said director Wanda Hannan.

The band - whose friend, teacher Cassie Tyree, helped them get the gig - set up in the center's main play room and draped a green, gold and red Ethiopian flag on the wall next to the children's collection of paper-plate art.

The group played original songs. They jammed on some reggae classics. But it was their version of nursery rhymes that brought the house down.

At first, however, the band had some competition for the children's attention.

The children, whose ages ranged from 1 to 13, were having a back-to-school party that afternoon in which they were treated to ice cream.

So the band played its opening numbers to the backs of the children, who were lined up for popsicles and ice-cream sandwiches.

But after the toddlers had their desserts, all eyes were on the band. The children clapped off beat and screamed randomly as Scholars Word churned out the rhythms.

It wasn't until the band played a song from deep in its repertoire - ``Mary Had a Little Lamb'' - that the crowd rose to its feet and began to dance. For this one, lead singer Bryce Creighton didn't have to sing: The children knew the lyrics, as they did for ``The Hokey Pokey'' and ``Old MacDonald Had a Farm.''

These were songs that the band normally wouldn't play during one of its sets. And the children - some of whom took it upon themselves to help Cuffee beat on his conga drums - were much more rambunctious than the traditional laid-back reggae audience.

Still, Scholars Word, which has been together about a year, enjoyed the show as a break from touring bars and clubs.

The children ``don't have too many requests,'' Stauch said. ``And they don't walk out on you.''

Stauch said reggae - with its inclusive, multicultural lyrics - brings home a important message for children.

``It crosses all color barriers, racial barriers. . . . It's about one love,'' said Stauch, adding that the band's motto is ``bringing the community together one beat at a time.''

All in all, it made for a fun time for band and audience.

``This is the best show yet,'' Creighton said.

At the end of the show, the children showed their appreciation with a ``Thank you, Scholars Word'' said in unison.

Four-year-old Alden Borio succinctly gave his positive review of the show.

``I liked the ice cream and the dancing,'' he said.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by LEWIS KRAUSKOPF

It wasn't until the members of the reggae band Scholars Word played

a song from deep in their repertoire - ``Mary Had a Little Lamb'' -

that the crowd rose to its feet and began to dance.

The dreadlocked members of Scholars Word, a fledgling reggae band

from Tampa, Fla., are, from left: David Cuffee, on percussions;

Michael Stauch, on bass; and Bryce Creighton, vocals and keyboard.