The Youngstown Percussion Collective (YPC) has an exciting multi-cultural performance/education outreach program - 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 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, or may be tailored to your schedule. Our fees are reasonable, negotiable, and 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.
Recent Performance History:
•Jackson-Milton Elementary School, North Jackson, OH 5/10/11, Tyler Husosky, host, attendance 300
•Maplewood Elementary School, Townville, PA, 4/30/11, Jennifer Wilkinson, host, attendance 700
•Groveport Madison High School, 4/30/10 Patrick O'Donnell, host. Attendance 500. Day-long residency included clinics, rehearsals, and a concert featuring YPC, GMHS, and collaborative pieces including Afro-Cuban Bembe and Brazilian Samba Batucada.
•Jackson-Milton Elementary School, North Jackson, OH 3/26/10, Tyler Husosky, host, attendance 300
•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