Residency Programming
From its inception, Resonance has had residency activities at its core. Members of Resonance have conducted master classes, workshops, clinics, and assemblies for people of all ages. Below, is a list of residency activities available from Resonance. These are broad outlines and the members are always willing to adapt to the needs and wants of each presenter.
Clinic/Masterclass
Resonance conducts clinics and master classes; both as a group and as individual members within their own areas of expertise. Topics include: Drumset, Steel Drum, African drumming, Cuban drumming, hand drumming, Marimba, Ragtime Xylophone, Acoustic and Electric Bass, Orchestral Percussion, and many more. In masterclasses students have the opportunity to perform with members of Resonance and receive individual coaching.
School Assembly Programs
Caribbean Traditions takes students on a musical and cultural journey to the island of Trinidad, the birthplace of the steel drum. This program traces the development of steel drum music from traditional West African drumming, to the rhythms Caribbean islanders played on junkyard materials, to the modern steel band -- whose instruments are made from oil barrels! Students are invited on stage to play with the band and all will get an understanding of the different rhythms used in this music. This hands-on entry to the evolution of the steel band provides a rich cultural exploration for your students.
Passport to Rhythm features percussion instruments and traditional music from Brazil, Cuba, West Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and the United States. In addition, band members demonstrate the idea of fusion in music: mixing different musical styles, instruments and rhythms to create new and interesting forms of music. Students have the opportunity to help perform a fusion piece on traditional instruments, and everyone comes away with a better understanding of different music-making traditions from around the world.
Classroom Activities
Resonance is very eager in helping presenters build audiences and believes in the teaching philosophy of Aesthetic Education, an experiential approach to arts and education pioneered by the Lincoln Center Institute, in which members of Resonance assist teachers with developing lessons that both the classroom teacher and Resonance participate in to deepen the experience of the performance by Resonance. (this type of residency would take place over multiple days)
Multi-day/Performance Residency
In multi-day residencies, student ensembles will engage in an intense study of percussion music that culminates in a performance. Your students share the stage in a joint performance with Resonance. Residencies include: Percussion Ensemble, African Drum & Dance, and Steel Band. Some performance areas, such as African Drum & Dance, can be taught to non percussion students, even students that have not had any formal music training! The final concert involves a performance of your students on the first half alongside Resonance and the second half is performed by Resonance alone.