Innerythms explores world music as it relates to today's pop culture, combining discussion, demonstration and participation. The use of ethnic drums, drum set, and exploring percussion from found objects and one's own body (clapping, stomping, shuffling, etc.) is educational as well as motivational and fun.

You need not have any percussion experience to relate to the programs. Innerythms will cater programs to the student and / or educator audience, with special consideration to grade level and specific subject matter if so desired. All in all, this workshop will generate an exciting avenue for the teacher and the student to use music in a fun and educational way to enhance learning and develop their own inner rhythms.

School's Educational Programs can expose students to the art of drums, percussion and rhythm through general assemblies, individual classroom settings, and after-school programs and workshops.

Educator Workshops, where teachers will be immersed in a wide variety of genres, are designed to improve their knowledge and skill base of ethnic music, musical listening skills, and oral traditions. Percussion styles will be presented in a manner for the classroom teacher to use as learning tools within their regular classroom.

The Rhythm Room, a rhythm ensemble comprised of students, demonstrating group collaboration on a variety of percussion instruments. Members of The Rhythm Room perform at events, learning the art of performance, teamwork and leadership in encouraging audience participation.

The Program

Music is a universal language, a form of Communication, of Art:
Rick will explain the execution of hand motion to bring out the proper voice of each drum and demonstrate how a percussionist can tell a story with rhythm and theatrical flair.

Rhythm is a Mathematical equation:
"The most controversian finding is that learning music can hel children to do better at math... Music involves proportions, ratios, sequences - all of which underlie mathematical reasoning." (Music on the Mind)

Rhythm and History
Rick will demonstrate various hand percussion instruments and briefly discuss histories of each, creating a musical timeline: from hand percussion, to the Djemba (pronounced "Jim-Bay") to electric drums, to the traditional drum kit.

Skill and Social Development
He will also discuss the team-building of the percussionist while playing with a drummer or accompanying dancers. To comclude the program, students will explore their own skill and inner rhythms, developing confidence by playing in a creative and supportive drum circle. Besides, drumming is a very physical thing - it gets the heartbeat up!