Oldenburg Academy recently received large grants from both the Ripley County and Franklin County Community Foundations to support a project entitled: “Integrating the History, Culture and Music of Traditional Steel Drum Bands into the Curriculum and Community”.
“This funding will enable the Academy to create a steel drum band by purchasing cello and bass pans for completion of a steel pan ensemble. Students will eventually perform at OA, other local schools, at area health care facilities and at community events,” said OA Marketing Communications Coordinator Kayla Wessling in a news release.
As part of this program, OA intends to educate students and nearby communities regarding the origin, instrument design and manufacture, playing techniques and cultural significance of island music.
Examples of how OA may integrate the culture of steel drum into present curriculum includes: students of Physics will be exposed to the nature of sound, English students will hear the stories of the Caribbean natives, Social Studies students will become familiar with the geography, enculturation and integration of the steel drum into island life, Project Lead the Way engineering students will explore the unique design of pans, and drama students will perform folkloric interpretations.
The Academy will also offer a Steel Drum band course for all interested students.
