Contributed by Meggie Aube
With the start of a new year, resolutions are always inevitable. Whether it be to exercise more, watch TV less, or perhaps take up a new hobby or skill. Maybe this year you should consider taking on the hobby of drumming! Playing music has been proven to grow your brain, relieve stress and make you happier. These things and more can be accomplished at the Percussion in the Valley studio in Palmer.
The new year marks a lot of new beginnings for Percussion in the Valley. The studio, which has been operating since 2011 in Palmer, has a new home. Moving from the downtown Palmer location in November 2016, the studio now is housed in a 1,400-square foot building that is dedicated to percussion and other musical and creative endeavors. The studio unofficially opened its doors to current students in mid-November of 2016. The grand opening of the studio will take place on Saturday, January 28th from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Everyone from the community is welcome to attend and check out the new building! The new location can be found at 13372 Crowther Rd.
With a new building and almost double the space of the previous location, Percussion in the Valley can offer even more classes and workshops in 2017! To celebrate in the new space, there will be a special workshop offered by an outside guest each month. The first workshop will be a one-time Brazilian Percussion Workshop taught by the talented Anchorage-based drummer, Cameron Cartland. Cartland is a performer and music educator who has studied percussion in Brazil and will share his knowledge with our community. The class will be held January 21st from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
The second workshop will be the return of the very popular Japanese Taiko Drum Workshop taught by Erika Ninoyu on February 18th. Ninoyu has been teaching Taiko drumming in Anchorage and the Valley for numerous years, and will be sharing her love of these ancient drums and rhythms.
In March, there will be a drum building workshop where participants will have the chance to build their own hand drum. All of these workshops are appropriate for all levels of experience and are for students in middle school through adults.
In addition, there will be two community drum workshops offered this winter by Percussion in the Valley’s director, Dr. Meggie Aube. The workshops are for adult beginning level students who wish to learn proper hand drumming technique, while learning grooves and making music in a group setting. The workshops are both a series of classes offered on three consecutive Saturdays. The first winter workshop will be held on Saturday, January 28th, February 4th, and 11th from 2:30- 3:30 p.m.
To register for the upcoming classes and workshops or to sign up for private percussion lessons contact Dr. Meggie Aube at 631-8079 or percvalley@gmail.com. For more information, you can also visit the website at: www.percussioninthevalley.com.
Whether it is a skill you wish to improve or something new you would like to start in your life, start off your new year with a resolution to do more drumming! The teachers at the studio look forward to grooving with you in 2017!
