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PERCUSS!

Percussion: Slam, bang, doing, crash, crack, crunch, plank, tap, ping, ring, pddddrrrrpppp (say it, and you'll get it!)... in other words, "the noise that is produced when two objects are struck together, or the sound, vibration or shock caused by such striking, beating, or twanging; a musical instrument in which sound is produced by striking such as a piano, xylophone or drum; or the term for percussion musical instruments collectively."

Percussion instruments can be as simple as your car keys, the sound you make tapping a wooden spoon on the rim of a cooking pot, what you hear when you are sanding a piece of wood, or even idly thwacking a rubber band. Our bodies love to make music even when the brain piloting that body is not consciously directing it to"now make music." That concept goes to our feeling that everyone can make music for music is the universal language within us all. It may also be the reason that educators and psychologists encouraged the toy industry to design the wonderfully creative serious music toys, CD's, tapes and even computer programs for infants and young children which play quite complicated musical scores and rhythms.

interPLAYcompany has used bones, sandblocks from the hardware store, washboards of tin and glass, ratchets, steel pellets that roll around, water glasses, full and not so, aluminum pots, flower pots and sand to dance in! When you hear percussion of any kind your foot taps, your bodies move..... and there you are, a veritable rhythm machine, an integral part of making music, a bouquet of "beats" in every musical score. Band members of interPLAYcompany have become adept at defining, refining and playing those rhythms on percussion instruments of all kinds with traditional instruments as their partners for seamless exciting and memorable performances.

beating
On drums, Richie Garcia and Coleman O'Donaghue; banjo, Bill Seely

On the Stage at Strathmore Music Center - March 2005

interPLAYcompany is a state and federally licensed 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Donations may be sent to:
Paula R. Moore
6777 Surreywood Lane
Bethesda, MD 20817