West Pelzer, S.C. - West Pelzer Elementary School is adding world music drumming to its music program starting in Spring 2025.
The music program received an Arts Enhancement Program grant from the South Carolina Department of Education to implement the initiative.
“World music drumming is a program set up by a man named Will Schmid and he takes the drumming patterns from Africa and Latin America and kind of creates songs or uses songs through singing or performing to enhance the children’s drumming abilities,” said music teacher Sean Closz.
Closz said the grant includes funding for a class set of drums and at least two performances. West Pelzer students in all grades will have an opportunity to participate in the program. Interested students will also be able to join a percussion group that will perform throughout the year.
According to Closz, the program uses hand drums called Tubanos.
“I love the music that is used,” said Closz. “I’ve performed the different ensembles, the different songs and I know how infectious the music is when they start playing it. I just look forward to seeing them (students) gain a love for percussion through this. I’ve used percussion in different aspects throughout the school year and for different projects but this is just really hands-on and it’s really fun.”
Closz hopes to start using the drums after winter break.