Darleene Barrientos
A rhythmic boom reverberated in Verdugo Woodlands Elementary School's
cafeteria Wednesday, sending a quiver along the walls and the floors,
but the students sitting on the ground loved it.
Students shook their heads, tapped their feet and mimicked the arm
movements of a taiko drum show from the Kinnara taiko group, part of
the Los Angeles Music Center's education division. The presentation
included several songs, a short introduction to the musical
instruments unique to Japan and a song where students were called to
volunteer as drummers.
Even though he was seated near the back of the cafeteria,
8-year-old Christian Vasquez sat on his haunches and swept his arms
up and down alternately in time to the rhythm of the drumming.
"It sounded like he was playing a rock and roll song," Christian
said.
The drummers showed the students their percussion instruments,
explained their origins and played them briefly to demonstrate how
each instrument sounded.
The performers also donned costumes -- a lion's mask and a lion's
head whose mouth clomped open and shut -- and danced to a warbling
flute and a beating drum, sending the students into fits of laughter.
Danielle Resuuion, 7, was one of the students chosen to pound on a
drum. Danielle's was a medium-sized barrel drum set at an angle,
called a josuke drum.
"It was hard to keep up. I had to go faster and faster," Danielle
said.
But even thought it was fast paced, Danielle can't wait for her
next chance.
Wednesday's taiko performance was one of four cultural assemblies
sponsored by the school's Parent-Teacher Assn. each year.
