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The Princess is a member of the Drum Ensemble at her school. It's an audition-based group that had about 120 kids try out for 13 spots. They performed at a chorus/orchestra concert this week and I've got to admit that I'm not sure whether this is something I should be impressed with or not.

The group is entirely improvisational. One kid starts the rhythm and they all join in and do their thing. They take turns being the leader so that everyone gets at least one chance in their various shows.

I know that the music teacher raves about how good the kids are, but not being a musician, I'm not sure. They practice once a week.

I know there are a lot of music/band types here, so I thought I'd run it by you guys.

Drum Ensemble Link
(the Princess is on the far right in the first rhythm and on the bell in the second)

I'm a percussionist, but I'm not really a fan of this type of thing. To me, it sounds a little like tribal music.

I got into it at first, but then I kept wanting a little bit more. Unfortunately, the bells that were used were agogo bells, which have two pitches, and the pitches didn't seem to mesh well with the tuning of the other drums used. I am more the type of percussionist that enjoys playing as part of a symphonic band, not as a drum ensemble. In the band, I can then play the tuned instruments like the timpani and marimba.

For sixth graders, its sounds fine. And I bet your daughter is really enjoying herself. Which as parents - we all want to support.

Music education is pretty important (hell - I'm an architect..... I obviously support the arts.... I even played electric guitar at my 6th grade music recital as my class mates sang along- "I want to teach the world to sing" ) Music can strength one's skills in math as well as be a form of expression. I still play guitar today... and other than that one recital.... guitar playing was in no way shape or form supported by the public educational system - I had to take private lessons.

Pedagogically speaking, I have problems with the concept and the fact that the teacher admits to not really teaching but "facilitating". Which I interpret as not teaching them anything about music theory or how to actually use the instruments. I am imagining (right or wrong) that the kids show up for class and just begin to bang around until something sounds somewhat decent..... and the teacher tells a student to come in sooner or later with the bells. But what's the educational value beyond the sort of "call and response" music that seems to come out of it. It might have been more educational if the students had to actually be able to play another instrument - then play that instrument in accompaniment.

We're about the same age (I graduated high school in 1979). I can just imagine what my father would have said if he came to school to watch me bang on the bongs for 45 minutes. And its this stuff that drives me crazy when educators are taken back by the public's backlash during election time. I would much prefer the school buy 25 keyboards and teach the kids piano for a semester. Or like the parochial school my boys went to.... they went and bought some guitars and spent time teaching the kids some chords and chord progressions and discussed things like the cycle of fifths. Nicholas, of course, knowing how to play ripped into the opening riff from Layla and immediately became the featured player.

But we still want to be supportive of our kids..... because they're the greatest.

So I am torn. Glad your daughter is enjoying herself and I think she get some team building skills out of this but ..... is this really how we should be spending tax-payer's money?

Good comments. Our district is pretty committed to music education. Consistently ranks high in the US.

This drum ensemble is actually an extension of their rhythm unit where they learn the instruments and how to do complementing rhythms. As far as her facilitating, I think that's what it is, mostly coaching. I like the teamwork aspect like you indicated.

Currently the kids are doing music composition and writing songs and the next unit is guitar. A lot of the music programs are paid for through a foundation, not direct tax dollars.

Tech83 wrote:
I can just imagine what my father would have said if he came to school to watch me bang on the bongs for 45 minutes.

I'm sure he would have been proud how well you hit those bongs.

PGY Tiercel wrote:

Tech83 wrote:
I can just imagine what my father would have said if he came to school to watch me bang on the bongs for 45 minutes.

I'm sure he would have been proud how well you hit those bongs.

I was thinking about that- my dad would have said-"Pass that over here son, and where's that dude from down the hall that had the Doritos?" Well, no, actually he wouldn't have. As an engineer he probably would have redesigned the bong to be more efficient, though. Just before he crushed it and called the police.

That would have been my dad....but he would have been wearing his factory uniform and work boots.... not a toga.