The Reiffton School is taking their students on a musical journey around the world with an experience of “World Rhythms.”
The Reiffton Bucket Drumming Ensemble, led by Artist in Residence musician Leon Jordan, Sr., will be featured in a parent/community performance 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Reiffton School, 4355 Dunham Drive, Reading. (Snow date of 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27.)
Jordan, a professional musical and educator for over 20 years, is leading a group of almost 40 sixth graders in their bucket drumming lessons. In his career, Jordan has performed with Chaka Kahn, Grover Washington Jr., and George Benson.
Every year, Reiffton offers an Artist in Residence program, usually concentrating on theater, so expanding to bucket drumming is something new.
“We haven’t done anything like this before,” Patricia Kline, band director, told Berks-Mont Newspapers. “We were looking for something a little different.”
The program runs from Jan. 6 through Feb. 26. The students each designed and decorated their own bucket to be used in the performances, which were donated by Home Depot.
In accordance with the “World Rhythms” theme, five bulletin boards were decorated around the school representing Japan, Brazil, Caribbean Islands, West Africa, and New Orleans. On Monday, Jan. 26, the fifth and sixth graders toured the building where the iPods and iPads created and interactive experience. At each different station, Jordan demonstrated the musical technique associated from the country or city.
Come out to Reiffton School on Feb. 26 to see what the students have been up to!
