African Drum Workshop
Watch a segment from an African Drum clinic with Grant Braddock and Spirit of America Winter Percussion on January 28, 2012.
“Winter Percussion African Drum Workshop”
New Pyware Retreat
An opportunity to develop your skills and effective design tools in a comprehensive workshop, customized to address your specific design challenges and goals for the modern marching band, drum corps, winter guard and indoor drumline.
Craig Harms is internationally recognized as an instructor and clinician on the subject of Computerized Marching Band and Drum Corps Visual Design.
Cost $700
For more information, please call us at 508-255-4044 or email [email protected]
Keyboard Sale
Spirit of America is selling its current keyboard instruments. All instruments were purchased in 2005 (unless otherwise noted), and have been well-cared for and impeccably maintained. Click on the following link for a pdf with information about the instruments and how to purchase:Vibe & Xylo
Day 24 – Sept 27, 2011
For our final day in South Africa we celebrated the culmination of all the band’s hard work by visiting Kruger National Park.
We hope you enjoy a few choice photos. Tomorrow we head home!
Day 23 – Sept 26, 2011
Travel Day from Joburg to Kruger National Park. We are staying right on the river bordering the park. We’ve already had several wildlife sightings including elephants, hippos, crocodiles, bald eagles, warthogs, kudu and many kinds of birds. Sr. Estelle and Rachel were chased back into their room by a family of monkeys!! Instead of swimming in the river, many of us found the hotel’s water slide to be a better alternative!
Breakfast is at 5am and then we head out for an all day Safari! Stay tuned for pictures……
Day 22 – Sept 25, 2011
Our final performance of The Fall and Rise of the Phoenix!
Now to pack up and take a quick trip to Kruger National Park.
Day 21 – Sept 24, 2011
Can you guess who’s behind the mask?
Did you guess right?
Row 1: Sr. Alicia, Stephanie, Sr. Rosemary
Row 2: Br. Philip, Ellen, Br. Jacob
Row 3: Paul, Sr. Mercy, Sr. Estelle
Row 4: Sr. Agnes. Sr. Martina, N. Andrew
Row 5: Mike, Amy, Br. Mark
Row 6: Kate, Br. Richard
Tomorrow is our final performance!
Day 20 – Sept 23, 2011
Two more performances today. These pictures say it all.
Day 19 – Sept 22, 2011
Two Performances Today!
The matinee, in particular, was a lot of fun as hundreds of students were bussed in. Most of the children came from Soweto and had never been in a theatre before. They had absolutely no inhibitions in showing their emotions during the show… delight in the drumming, oohs and ahhs at the flying, shrieks at the horses and not one was left in their seat when beads were thrown into the audience during Act II. The energy was over the top. They were also thrilled to participate in workshops with SOA members before and after the performances.
Tomorrow we get to do it all over again with new kids. How cool is that!
Day 18 – Sept 21, 2011
OPENING NIGHT! THE FALL AND RISE OF THE PHOENIX!
Day 17 – Sept 20, 2011
This was a day to perfect flying with our instructor, Jason Whicker.
Tearing down the temple columns in Act I…
The heavenly ancestors in Act III…
Now see what it looks like from the air!
Tomorrow is opening night!
Day 16 – Sept 19, 2011
Rehearsal Day at the Joburg Theatre
Catch up with Kirsti backstage!
Day 15 – Sept 18, 2011
Bump in day at the Mandela at Joburg Theatre!
Day 14 – Sept 17, 2011
Today the battery returned to Soweto to participate in an exchange with other drummers from the city. This was part of the Arts Alive Festival in Joburg.
Catch Stephanie’s impressions…
Day 13 – Sept 16, 2011
Hear from Rachel and Hannah on our first rehearsal day at the Mandela at Joburg Theatre!
Day 12 – Sept 15, 2011
This was a profound day with visits to…
The Apartheid Museum
Kliptown, Soweto
and the African Craft Market!
Day 11 – Sept 14, 2011
Travel day from Vryheid to Joburg.
Catch up with Chris on the bus!
Day 10 – Sept 13, 2011
Ian Hale and the students of Inkamana High School gave a show-and-tell from their workshop together. We were able to donate these drums to the high school; Remo kindly donated the drum heads and Vic Firth donated all the sticks.
Spirit of America members and the high school students join together for a marimba choir exercise.
The students were grateful for the time we spent together and they were thrilled with the drums and sticks that were given to them.
Tomorrow we head to Joburg!
Day 7 – Sept 10, 2011
Day 6 in Durban
