Learning the beat

The Norman Transcript

Sat, May 17 2008

— Transcript Staff Writer
For an hour Wednesday afternoon, Truman elementary second-graders were musicians.
Norman drummer Todd Balcom brought an assortment of drums and a list of lessons for the youngsters. He compared music to a building with a simple thought.
"Music is like a house, it needs a foundation," Balcom said.
He also told the group a simple rule about rhythm.
"If you can say it, you can play it," he said.
Students gathered around several drums as Balcom guided them into a lesson. Children used the instruments to mix a few beats.
He said each person is unique in his or her own way, just like a drum.
"Drums make a language we can all understand," he said.
Second grade teacher Sue Madole said she was impressed with Wednesday's drum lesson.
"Everybody wins when you have art," Madole said.
She believes the subject is a vital part of education.
"Nobody is losing in there," the teacher said as she pointed to the group of students banging on the drum sets.
Eight-year-old Parker LaBrie said he learned drums have their own voice.
"You have to have a foundation or your music will collapse," the second-grader said.

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