Drumbeats!

Howard Elementary School

Howard school is a community that has changed significantly in the past 10 years in its cultural makeup. Many groups are now learning together that have not had thoughtful or educational exposure to each other's culture.

The Howard Kindergarten team is proposing a common theme of "drums" to provide a year of drumming educational assemblies for all K-5 participants to listen to, learn from, and draw comparisons to how different cultures approach music through drumming. We would then like to provide a follow-up for our smallest learners with a hands on, meeting in person of the guest drummers . During this time students would have the opportunity to make a drum and explore what goes into making the music of other cultures.

Why is this project important?

Building understanding through experiences with other cultures helps our students become more effective world citizens. It fosters the beginning of a conversation that will help children begin building bridges towards communication with others. It also gives the children from our representative cultures an sense of pride and cultural identity in the sharing of a piece of their own culture.

Who, and how many, will be served?

330 students, plus all invited community members.

How will you evaluate the success of this project?

Completion of visit by all listed groups.

Does this proposal build upon existing programs at your school?

This proposal is a beginning building block for helping students and staff improve understanding of other cultures and to begin building an environment that encourages student success in school. It helps all members of our Howard community gain an exposure and begin a conversation around the uniqueness of other cultures and what we have to learn from them. It is our hope that it will foster further steps towards exploring culture and how to better serve the needs of all of our children and staff.

How will the funds be spent?

Drumming performances by the following groups for all grade levels.
Native American drumming group
African drumming group
Taiko Drummers
High School Band drummers
Latino Indigenous Drummers