Shorecrest School

Celebrate the Arts: You’ve Got the Beat

Source/Author: Ethan Updike, Band Director
April 30, 2020
Arts


Traditionally during Celebrate the Arts Week, two mornings are dedicated to opening up the campus to artists from the surrounding community to work hands-on with Experiential School, Lower School and Middle School Chargers. This April, Middle School students had guest artists visiting via Zoom - rather than in their classrooms - due to the COVID19 quarantine. Lower School had Celebrate the Arts in May.

Shorecrest Band Director Ethan Updike was a guest artist in sixth grade for Celebrate the Arts. He led a virtual lesson focused on rhythm in music with students drumming on pots and pans.

They were instructed to find pots, pans, and other “kitchen dishes that make different sounds.” Then they lined up their cookware by pitch - from giving off a low to high note when struck. Then Mr. Updike explained the difference between the beat and the measure in a standard pop song. 

Students listened to two songs and had to pick out the snare, kick, high hat, or cymbals. They were challenged to play both the snare AND the kick; and then they played the snare, kick, and cymbals.

They finished by bringing their pets to the screen and having a dance party with their animal friends. "It was lots of fun for everyone!" said Mr. Updike.

See more from Celebrate the Arts 2020 here.


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