Head O’ Meadow Students Enjoy Rhythm And Dance

By Eliza Hallabeck

Students at Head O’ Meadow were treated to music and dance from around the world on Friday, October 10, during a demonstration by Drum-N-Dance Presentations.

The demonstration gave the students a chance to learn about instruments and songs from other countries. The Parent Teacher Association at Head O’ Meadow paid for the event, which also included sessions for the fourth grade students during the week before the presentation. By the time the students sat in the cafeteria for the presentation they had already learned most of the music, and they had learned to sing along and participate with Drum-N-Dance Presentations.

“We’re a playing music group from all over the world,” said Randy Brody, the director of Sound Directions, the group that puts on Drum-N-Dance Presentations. “And we play instruments from all over the world. At times we try to get everyone involved.”

Mr Brody is originally from New York City, but now lives in Weston. Sound Directions, he said, plays across the tri-state area, but focuses on Connecticut. Other members of the group are Christine Anderson, Suzanne Tribe, and Frank Norton.

“Most of you will know the songs that we’re about to do,” said Mr Brody to the students as he opened the presentation. He introduced the other members of Drum-N-Dance, and started a song to welcome to the students.

The first song performed was from Nigeria. The students we encouraged to clap along to the song, and to sing along when they knew the words.

For the second show of the day, the third and fourth grade students attended the event, and the rest of the school saw the first presentation earlier in the morning.

Other songs were from Costa Rica, Cuba, and Egypt. Different instruments were brought out to give a different flavor to the music, which included a steel drum from Switzerland that was used in place of a traditional steal drum from the Caribbean.

The group invited students from different classrooms to participate in each song. Some students played instruments, while others danced to the music. Teachers were also summoned by name by Mr Brody to participate along with their students.

“So we’ve been to three places already,” said Mr Brody after a few songs had been performed, “and now I thought we would take a trip to Egypt.”

When the musical journey to Egypt was over the students were brought through Trinidad, and eventually Mr Brody asked them to dance the Samba back to their classrooms with their teachers.