Jeff
Hanna and
Barbara
Gail, of
The Rhythm
Inlet, can
bring their "edu-taining" (educational,
entertaining
and fun!)
performance
to your community,
sharing with
you their
knowledge
and skills
of international
rhythmic
music. These
two passionate
rhythmists
and natural
teachers
have been
performing
and updating
this evolving
show for
10 years
in elementary,
middle, and
high schools,
colleges,
libraries,
retirement
communities,
state parks,
businesses,
after school
and mentoring
programs,
conferences,
churches,
festivals,
summer camps,
and on community
television.
(Please see
our “References” page
on this website.)
During
this special
event you
will see
and hear
demonstrations
of playing
styles from
The Rhythm
Inlet’s
extensive
personal
collection
of over 30
exotic hand-drums
and percussion
instruments,
from such
far away
places as
Ghana, Cuba,
Belize, Brasil,
Egypt, Ireland,
Trinidad,
and the Americas,
and hear
about their
travels to
some of those
places for
cultural
and percussion
immersion
and study.
You’ll
meet instruments
with various
sounds, that
are made
from natural
as well as
recycled
materials,
and have
interesting
names like
Djembe (jem‘-bay),
Conga, Riqq
(rick), Pandeiro
(pahn-day‘-roo),
Caxixi (kah-shee‘-shee),
Bougarabou
(boo‘-gar-ah-boo),
and Gankogui
(gahn-koh‘-gwee)!
You,
the audience,
will be movin‘ and
groovin‘ to
the music
with special
opportunities
to join in
the percussion
from your
seats. The
grand finale
always includes
hands-on
instrument
opportunities
for the audience
to make music
together!
Depending
on the population,
audience
members may
either be
brought on
stage, or
to participate
in a Samba-style
parade! In
Junior High
and High
School situations
we may ask
for teacher
assistance
in choosing
which students
will join
us on stage.
In Primary
and Middle
School situations
we will choose
from the
audience
ourselves.
In all school
situations,
teachers
and principals
should be
prepared
to be asked
to join us
on stage!
For family
concerts,
we'll focus
primarily
on the children
joining us
on stage,
so Mom and
Dad, bring
the camera!
For all-adult
concerts,
we’ll
invite everyone
to join in
a Samba-style
percussion
parade around
the room
or the grounds
if it’s
outdoors.
This popular,
edu-taining
show is always
age-appropriately
presented,
and can be
tailor made
for your
specific
needs. For
example,
one elementary
school wanted
a focus on
Africa and
the African
diaspora,
and only
wanted a
20 minute
show, performed
6 times in
the same
day to rotating
groups of
students.
Another is
an adult
group that
wanted an
extended
performance
with more
steel drum
tunes, and
more travelogues.
They have
presented
this program
to kindergarteners,
university
music majors,
mentally
challenged
youth, high
functioning
seniors,
families
with children,
and everyone
in between!
There will
be time for
your questions
and comments,
which are
always welcome.
It takes
one and a
half hours
to set up
for this
performance,
and the same
to take it
down.
So
please,
everyone
get ready
to “Boom
Boom Cha“!
An important
note from
Barbara and
Jeff, for
schools and
multi-generational
settings:
In our effort
to spread
the joys
of rhythm
and movement
to people
of all ages,
abilities
and challenges,
and to cultivate
a culture
of hands-on,
participatory
music and
dance for
everyone,
it is important
for children
to see adults
(i.e. faculty,
administration,
and family),
as well as
their peers,
try new and
different
things! Adults,
please join
in the audience
participation
activities.
It is your
active involvement,
rather than
your level
of accomplishment,
that inspires
our children
to learn
and grow! |
