NEWSLETTER

The inspiration for my project came when I was working as an ArtsBridge student here at Cedar North elementary. I taught 1st graders music through science projects and taught them how to make instruments and how to recognize tone and pitch. As the semester went on, I realized that anyone can learn how to make sounds, and there-fore music. My experiment of the differences between sound and music continue, but I have learned that many people can make music just by making simples sounds – with things like drums. Being a percussionist – I play drums every day and read complicated music scores. But, it hasn’t always been this way. I researched the history of drum circles, and Africa, and became very invested in my learning by attending conferences and reading books about the subject. I felt very inspired that natives that didn’t even have a specific language used to communicate, yet they were able to sync as a group and play music together.
Some of the challenges of my project were acquiring the instruments to take around with me to teach. A big set of drums can cost a few thousand dollars. I got permission from the school to borrow some drums for my project, but then I had the problem of transporting them. After asking around, I found a friend to come with me and help me haul the instruments in his truck.
Through attending a conference in Indianapolis, I found a company based out of Utah called the “Drum Bus” that does music projects similar to what I was doing with my edge project. I got in contact and found volunteer opportunities in St. George and in the greater Salt Lake area. I was able to use the instruments and transportation of the Drum Bus to help me experience many different groups and I am very lucky to have the resources and connections to let me borrow the equipment I needed for the rest of my project.
This project truly benefitted many different groups of people. I tried to have many different groups try my Drum for Fun project and worked with the elderly, teens, special needs, and even preschool aged kids. The teenagers at Parowan High told me how much fun they had and I observed how the special needs group really appreciated something different from their daily routine. Lori Smith who attended one of my sessions said the following: “I’m so glad Carmen invited me. I just felt joy and a lot of good energy. I felt very connected to the others in the group. If I had to drive 6 hours, I’d come again because drumming is so therapeutic almost to a level of meditation. Music, vibration, and connection all work together to help heal our hearts. You could go in so many different directions with this project.”
The project really helped me realize what types of groups I work and communicate the best with. I had an easier time working with kids and special needs group than with the elderly. I can now push my focus towards helping the groups I work best with. It was also amazing for me to see how music is something that everyone can understand. It is a way for communication to occur in an untypical setting and a safe and fun environment for everyone. It was a way for me to learn that humans are fundamentally similar at the core, no matter what age. I felt connected to all those that I taught in these drum circles and really cared about how they were feeling. It was good for me to get in touch with that side of myself. Lastly I felt so creative and liberated throughout this process as I was encountering so many different people in different settings. I had to make my own instruments, process how to talk to people through music that can’t otherwise communicate, and teach music to people that had never touched an instrument before.
Is there actually a difference between sound and music? We use them both to communicate although some may just have a few more vibrations. Anyone that has a heartbeat can drum and make music.