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!
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