Youth
www.SanTanSun.com
October 19 - November 1, 2013
31
Drummer marches to own beat
RHYTHM SECTION: Drummer Bucket Baker visits students at an area school. Submitted photo
New Vistas student chosen by Smithsonian
Melinda Chang, a graduating sixthgrade student from New Vistas Center for Education in Chandler, was chosen as Arizona’s sole representative for the National History Day (NHD) competition at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. Melinda’s Junior Division project was chosen by the Arizona Historical Society for the National History Day 2013 competition, themed “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, & Events.” Her project focuses on the life and ideas of
Music Maker Workshops drum teacher and Ahwatukee resident Bucket Baker visited local schools recently to spread his inspirational message of success. In his 25-year career of professional touring and recording, Baker has worked with recording artists Barry White, Nancy Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake and more. Baker offers private drum lessons in the afternoon and evenings for all ability levels at Music Maker Workshops, 3233 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 2, Chandler. Students learn how to integrate a variety of rhythms to enhance musical style and how to use gentle sounds to enhance music with shakers, bells and triangles. Baker also directs the Ahwatukee Sound Drum Corps and Desert Dolls Drill Team at the Ahwatukee studio. Drum Corps students learn marching, drumming techniques and stick control based
fashion icon Coco Chanel and features a circular six-foot rotating display highlighted with a reproduction of Chanel’s original “little black dress” designed and sewn by Melinda. Melinda also reproduced Chanel’s sketchbook with pages of hand-drawn designs. National History Day is an annual competition for middle and high school students in which participants research historical topics related to the annual theme and present their conclusions as a research paper, theatrical reenactment,
on Drum Corps International and “street beats.” Baker is now booking Chandler schools, business workshops or team-building events for November and January. Drum demonstrations or drum circles are 45 minutes long and combine musicianship with interactive experiences to educate and inspire and an emphasis on self-motivation, practice and hard work. Participants have the opportunity to hear a variety of drums, genres of music and drum playing. Audience participation encourages both children and adults to embrace their own creativity while listening to others and working as one unit. Music Maker Workshops is owned by Chandler residents Larry and Bev Bigam and their daughter Shelley Yakubow. To learn more, contact Music Maker Workshops at 480-706-1224 or lessons@ musicmakerworkshops.com, or visit musicmakerworkshops.com.
documentary film, website or exhibit. This year, more than 500,000 students competed at their school, regional and state levels with the goal of being their state’s sole representative in each category at the National Competition. The final stage of the three-tiered series of contests was held this year during a five-day event at the University of Maryland, College Park earlier this summer. New Vistas Center for Education is at 670 N. Arizona Ave., Suite 35, Chandler. To learn more, visit newvistasaz.com.