|
|
 |
| |
In order to explain
what Boom can do for your school, it is
important to provide some background information
on the founder, Paul Houle.
 |
Paul
Houle has taught orchestral and world
percussion at the Royal Conservatory
of Music since 1989, building the percussion
ensemble program from a beginning class
of six students, to three levels of
percussion ensembles, a community based
adult percussion ensemble and an adult
hand-drumming program. (Many classroom
teachers have passed through the program
over the years). The Percussion ensemble
program has become the focal point for
all of his private students with many
staying in the program for over 9 years.
Several have gone on to university to
study music. Further to that, Paul founded
and developed the RCM World Music Centre
in 2002 and served as its Executive
Director for two seasons while setting
up a variety of world music courses
that changed the face of the Royal Conservatory.
He was also a featured presenter at
the RCM Art of Teaching Conference for
2003 and 2004. |
 In
1994, the Royal Conservatory approached
Paul to develop programs through its
newly formed “Learning through
the Arts” program. The programs
he developed used Boom!™ global
percussion circles as a stepping off
point to help teachers and students
meet their curriculum outcomes in
a wide variety of subjects. The programs
were not only about music and/or drumming
but also about using the drums as
tools to make meaningful connections
with these subjects for the students.
Paul presented 150 to 200 workshops
per year at several schools across
the GTA.
|
 |
Paul
has had the great pleasure of working with many wonderful educators
along the way and together they have had a dramatic impact on the lives
of many students. In many cases they changed how students felt about
school and learning altogether. A couple of the most satisfying
initiatives were developing the “drum project “at Westview Centennial
in the Jane and Finch area as well as the helping six “troubled”
students create their own musical score using global percussion
instruments for a school production of Aida. As well as working in
several specific subject areas, Paul was always able to integrate
cultural diversity and most areas of the music curriculum into the
program. |
To this end, Boom is always open to
developing programs for schools and
there are limitless possibilities. From
workshops for students to workshops,
for teachers on a variety of music related
or team building topics. Boom has developed
programs based on single visits to weeklong
intensives and programs that work with
single classes or a whole school. These
programs can address a variety of topics
or be as simple as a drum circle for
your school. |
Give Boom a call to have Boom’s Global
percussion program
make a difference in your school.
Boom offers discounted rates for schools.ols
 |
 |
1)
Cultural Diversity - an exploration
of world cultures through global percussion
2) Teamwork,
risk and support = success - The drum circle as a tool to develop
teamwork skills and respect among
the student population
3) The
Boom Fund Raiser – On a number of occasions Boom has
developed weeklong programs encompassing
the whole school to develop a performance
evening that has been used as a fund
raiser
4) The
Drum Project - Using drums
as a common bond between cultures
to develop a commonality in diversity.
Joint initiative - This project involves
classroom work on the part of the
teacher |
 |
 |
1)
Music of the World
2) Specific
workshops on Latin, African, Middle
Eastern, and Asian percussion
3) Workshops
on Percussion techniques for Orchestra
and Concert Band
4) The
study of improvisation through Global
Percussion
5) The
Importance of Rhythm
6) Hand
drum techniques for young percussionists |
 |
 |
1)
Drum circles workshop dealing with
teamwork and support among staff
2) Developing
a cross-cultural global drumming program
at your school
3) Building
a successful percussion ensemble program
at your school
4) Incorporating
world music into your music program
5) Using
drums circles as a teaching tool - facilitator training for school
teachers, music therapists, music
teachers and youth group leaders.
|
|
|
|
|
