Drum Clinic at Timber Point
First-graders at Timber Point Elementary School were treated to a demonstration by professional drummer Alfred J. Woods on Jan. 23.
A veteran musician, Woods has a longstanding musical relationship with Timber Point teacher Patricia DeRosa-Padden, whose father was Woods’ music teacher in junior high school. They continued to make music together after she joined her father’s band after high school.
The recently retired drummer offered to play for the Timber Point chorus’ winter concert, and the school’s first-graders showed particular interest in his playing. The students went back to class tapping their pencils, and the idea of the drum clinic was developed.
In the classroom, Woods demonstrated playing techniques, performed various types of music with DeRosa-Padden and allowed the mesmerized students to come up and try his drum set. “A wonderful day was had by all,” said DeRosa-Padden.
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Day of Horn for East Islip Seven
Far from being unlucky, Friday the 13 was a special day for seven students from East Islip who attended the seventh annual Suffolk County Music Educators' Association (SCMEA) “Day of Horn” at Commack Middle School.
SCMEA’s Day of Horn invites Suffolk County horn players of any age – students, music teachers and professional horn players – to come together and celebrate beautiful horn playing. Over 250 horn players join forces, practice a few horn ensemble pieces and then give an evening performance for family and friends. Every year there is a new world-renowned clinician on hand to work with the students and then perform a recital at the event’s conclusion.
Day of Horn also has an annual all-star horn ensemble consisting of approximately 20 advanced horn players, all requiring NYSSMA participation at level 5 or 6. This year’s all-stars were senior Kayleigh Cook (for the third year in a row) and junior Tanner Schaper (his first year as an all-star) from East Islip High School, and for the fourth time, East Islip Middle School seventh-grader Michael Stevens.
Other East Islip students playing in this year’s Day of Horn were Timber Point Elementary School fourth-grader Robert Dahl, East Islip Middle School seventh-graders Emily Orski and Zachary Oquendo, and East Islip Middle School sixth-grader Jason Burke.
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