Health & Fitness
CET Drums to an Exciting New Beat
Professional musician and health and wellness facilitator Mike Veny visited Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School to treat students to a new and exciting program. For one week, every morning a different grade level assembled in the school’s multipurpose room and sat in a large circle in front of drums and rattling instruments of all sizes and shapes. Music teacher Marlena Peters explained to the children that they would be participating in CET’s first drumming circle.
Mr. Veny led the circle by having everyone repeat various percussive rhythms. All became quite adept and worked together to create a pleasant array of sounds. The enthusiasm and energy were palpable as Mr. Veny introduced tempos that coordinated with positive and upbeat chanted phrases. After this session, the students followed rhythmic patterns on drums and created beats of their own in a smaller percussion circle.
The district is grateful to Mr. Veny for volunteering much of his own time. The program was funded by the CET PTA and through a BOCES arts and education grant.