Greenbelt Rhythm & Drum Festival Offers "Musical Enlightenment" for Children

Provided:

WHAT: Festival promotes “musical enlightenment” with a parade, drum circle, and ‘Harambee’ with Baba Ras D

WHEN: September 27, 2014, 10:30am - 5pm

WHERE: 131 Centerway, Roosevelt Center in Old Town Greenbelt, MD

WEBSITE: http://greenbeltrhythmanddrumfestival.org www.babarasd.com

Area children have compelling reasons to bring their parents out to the Greenbelt Rhythm and Drum Festival this month, a FREE event that features global drum performances, drum workshops, drum circles and arts & crafts vending.

Let’s start with the MotherDrumShip. Built in 2001 by the activist rhythm ensemble Rhythm Workers Union, the MotherDrumShip (MDS) is a relic of sorts. She is a handbuilt drum cart built atop the wheels of an antique baby carriage. Holding 3 large bass drums in her girth, and sporting appendages for rhythm blocks and tom-toms, the MDS sailed the streets of hundreds of marches and rallies for peace and justice in the early 2000’s. She sports a high-flying sail and is perfect for children to explore and march astride, or behind, while trying out the different instruments.

The MDS will begin pulsating around 10:30am at the festival, encouraging what organizers hope to be throngs of children in order to kick off a parade around the Roosevelt Center, complete with accompanying shakers and bells which will be on hand, and the coaching of one Bill Jenkins, father of Bill Jenkins’ World Of Music.

“I’m very excited to be part of the festival again this year, [as] making music with children is my favorite thing,” Jenkins said. “Most parents know that learning music has many educational benefits, but most instruments need a long period of individual lessons and practice. But with drums and percussion we can be part of a big exciting sound, and lose ourselves in it, and not have to worry about right and wrong notes.”

The parade will culminate into a drum circle with children and young people as the focus, and kick off global drum performances for the festival.

If the excitement of a parade isn’t enough, enter the mighty Baba Ras D and “Harambee” - an interactive presentation where children celebrate learning together through movement in song. This takes place on the main stage from 12:30-1pm, and again from 1:45-2:15pm inside Club 125 - the Greenbelt Community Makerspace - just steps from the stage.

From Baba’s own website, www.babarasd.com: “In Swahili, Harambee means “All pull together.” Harambee is the practice of hope, possibility and compassion - basically, all the things that happen when we all come together.

Baba Ras D is pleased to offer this original ‘musical enlightenment’ for your children to explore. Think of it as your little one’s first opportunity to express his or her voice, dance, play a drum or percussion instrument, shout, or sing along to songs that build character, confidence and community.”

The day-long festival offers performances, drum classes and drum circles for all ages, and features music and rhythms from Japan, the Caribbean, West Africa, Cuba, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.