Keeping The Beat

By the end of a Keeping The Beat session, the whole audience is clapping, stomping and yelling through a Rio Carnival style samba. It starts much smaller, with one simple beat played on found objects, and builds towards the more complex rhythms that different cultures use around the world. It's part show, part lesson, and everyone gets a turn. The program encourages creativity, co-operation and trust, and kids come out of it with a bit more confidence and a feel for rhythm. All the instruments are supplied. The Melbourne act first ran it as part of the Scienceworks holiday program, and it's designed for schools, libraries, festivals and holiday programs.