Drum sets, bongos and hand drums clutter the space at the non-profit music school on the corner of Northwest Sixth Street and 10th Avenue. But amid Friday night’s usual cacophony of grunts, bangs and crashes, none of the instruments made so much as a mumble.
HOME: Living In the Heart of Florida Magazine, 02/2009
“I had never done any drumming,” Cunningham said. “The drums are nice because they are immediately accessible, even if you aren’t very good at it.”
With a mix of young and old, the community drum line offered by Studio Percussion has become a perfect way for Cunningham to stay culturally active. The line meets once a week for practice and is open to all ages. Cunningham now feels confident playing the tenor drum thanks to the open and learning atmosphere at Studio Percussion. “It has taken me a long time to feel confident about playing because I don’t have a lot of time for practicing outside practices,” she said. “I love it when the kids teach me something new, or when I can teach what I have learned to somebody new that comes in.”
Performing all around town, Cunningham’s favorite event was one that got rained out. While rehearsing for the homecoming parade it began to downpour onto their float and all of the drums, she said.
“We stayed out there and played in the rain,” she said. “It’s fun being part of all that spirit.” As long as she can hold a drumstick, she will be a part of the drum line, Cunningham said.
Our Tuesday and Wednesday drumlines will both be playing for the University of Florida Women's Varisty Soccer team again this season! We are recruiting new members into these drumlines. If you would like more information please contact me. This is very exciting for us and is one of the most powerful experience our members have an opportunity to participate in.
Studio Percussion Bringing The Arts To Everyone
by Jill Wagstaff, Co-Founder and President of Studio Percussion, Inc.
Studio Percussion is a non-profit (501c3) organization dedicated to providing opportunities in the arts to all people, regardless of age, disability or financial limitations.
While music and arts education has been shown time and time again to improve grades and test scores among other positive attributes, we believe the most important thing about our program is that it gives people the chance to be a part of something unique and special. In the end, building strong relationships and feeling like you are a part of something meaningful seems to do more toward making your life happy and successful than many of the other accomplishments that we often assume will fulfill us.
At Studio Percussion, regular paying students and volunteers are the backbone of our program. They help us to remain a sustainable entity in the face of sharp cuts in the funding of the arts. About half of our students are in our financial assistance/scholarship program which subsidizes the cost of their music lessons. We have had students from many ethnic groups, students from every socioeconomic group, moms, dads, sisters and brothers who take lessons or play on a drumline together, students from eighteen months of age to eighty years, students who are blind, autistic, have mental and/or physical disabilities, Down Syndrome or other challenges. The key is inclusiveness and respect for everyone, regardless of where they are in terms of musical ability or training. Everyone has something to contribute and everyone has something to learn.
We currently offer lessons in drums, percussion, piano, guitar, bass and voice for all ages and began a preschool age dance program this spring. We also teach on site classes at schools, camp and daycare facilities. There are opportunities to learn privately or in one of our performing group settings. Our friends at Bunt Backline have recently opened a pro drum shop in our building to assist both our students and the public in finding quality music equipment at a fair price. Numerous music and non-music related volunteer opportunities are available, so there really is a place for everyone at Studio Percussion. Check out our website www.studiopercussion.org or call us at 338-8302 for more information or to get involved.
Looking to the future, we hope to add continued programs in music technology, dance/creative movement, and visual arts as well as a leadership development, mentoring and an afterschool program. Almost everyone in the world has a connection with music and movement, and our goal is to unite people from every walk of life and every culture through these very ancient and fundamental connections.
Press
