The Youngstown Percussion Collective (YPC) has created an exciting multi-cultural performance/education program that we would be honored to present at your school - the K-12 World Percussion Program. Our objective is to inspire young audiences and help them understand the universal elements of musical communication through the experience of rhythm as movement, music as a communal activity, and the beauty, simplicity, and appeal of percussion instruments from around the world.
We offer a K-8 program and a high school program; each includes audience participation, discussion/demonstration of the instruments, and question/answer opportunities. Programs can be tailored to the entire student body, exclusively music students, or a single classroom or ensemble. Each program is typically 45-50 minutes, but may be tailored to your schedule and can be held in various venues. Our fees are reasonable and negotiable. We offer a discount for back-to-back performances.
Performances include a quintet of premiere upper-classmen from the YSU Percussion Studio. In addition, Dr. Glenn Schaft, Associate Professor and Director of the YSU Percussion Studio, serves as the YPC faculty advisor and will attend your program. The World Percussion Program allows our students to gain performance and teaching experience and the proceeds help YPC (a non-profit YSU sponsored student organization) fund recording projects, guest artists, composer commission projects, and the advancement of percussion education in our region.
Our current K-8 program includes: Samba Batucada - traditional carnival percussion music from Brazil, Rumba Guaguanco - Afro-Cuban folkloric conga drumming, Head Talk - a contemporary American percussion theater piece, Wenda Kanawa - South African marimba music, and Stubernic – a virtuosic marimba showpiece by Mark Ford. The high school program includes unique repertoire and offers more in-depth discussion and audience participation opportunities.
Performance History:
Maplewood Elementary School, Townville, PA, 4/3/09, Jennifer Wilkinson, host, attendance 700
Employment Development Incorporated, East Liverpool, OH, 3/11/09, attendance 70.
Poland Union Elementary School, Poland, OH, 3/12/09 Carmella Smallhoover - principal, attendance 350
C. H. Campbell Elementary School - Canfield, OH, 1/23/09 Kent Polan-principal, Janet Williams - music educator, attendance 500.
Poland Union Elementary School, 2006, 2007, 2008. Carmella Smallhoover - principal, attendance 350 at each event
Poland North Elementary School, 2004, 2005, 2006. Michael Masucci - principal
Contact: Dr. Glenn Schaft 330.941.3643 or geschaft@ysu.edu
Dr. Schaft will prepare a contract agreement including the YPC Employee Identification Number (EIN) for IRS tax reporting purposes.
Study guides: We have optional "program study guides" intended for use by educators in-advance of our presentation. These guides include historical information, program notes, descriptions of the instruments, and links to recordings, published print materials, and websites.
Testimonials:
Our students from Kindergarten through 4th Grade were totally engaged and mesmerized by the recent Youngstown Percussion Collective assembly at C.H. Campbell Elementary in Canfield. The inspirational performance demonstrated talent, fun, creativity and an appreciation for music and instruments of the WORLD! These qualities positively support Ohio standards, benchmarks and indicators! Students and teachers alike sat feeling the rhythms and being amazed by the sound and visuals of this performance! Our students use world music instruments in the Music classroom, with third grade students enjoying a cross-curricular focus, making instruments and playing authentic rhythms of cultures around the world. Our youngest students however were equally attentive and enthralled by the performance. Thanks so much for inspiring our students! Janet Williams, Music Specialist C. H. Campbell Elementary, Canfield, OH