The project became Rhythm Section Drumlines. It began making people’s toes tap in Kansas City before settling in at the Bay Area where 200 kids now practice the art of drumming. Mick and Nicole Terrizzi designed the after-school program to be a low-stress learning environment where kids feel comfortable discovering and playing with their creativity.
“Creativity is where the best innovation has come from. It provides students better ways to learn,” Mick Terrizzi told Impact Hub. It is their belief that every kid have the option of having music be a part of their education.
Their performances – like those at NCAA Basketball halftime shows – give the kids a chance to show off their skills. Along their way to mastering their kits, young drummers gain confidence, passion, and satisfaction in seeing their hard work pay off. And that confidence and enthusiasm spreads to other parts of life, too – students show improvements in school and at home.
“I found it interesting how everyone was so different, but we all bonded over one thing: drums. We learned to trust each other, support each other and break out of our comfort zones,” says a former student.
If we’ve learned one thing from Rhythm Section Drumlines, it’s to find the thing you love and get to work. It might just change your life.
