June 5 marked the beginning of the second summer of the bucket drumming class, a program designed not only to teach individuals with special needs basic music skills but also to provide a fun and engaging way to develop teamwork, leadership, decision-making, and self-advocacy.
The class began with a review of the “stop” position, where players hold their drumsticks vertically in front of their chest. Students were then reintroduced to the basic bucket drumming sounds—center, rim, click, and side—by striking different parts of the bucket. Thanks to their year-round practice, the students quickly warmed up and demonstrated confidence in these foundational techniques.
To make the class more interactive, volunteers led a “stop sign” game, helping students practice listening and following instructions. Students also took turns acting as the “traffic light controller,” giving them the opportunity to lead and make decisions.
During the second half of the session, the class played a “follow the leader” game and practiced drumming along with familiar songs to get comfortable with rhythm and beat. The session ended with students using different bucket sounds to play along to some of their favorite songs, combining creativity with coordination and fun.
Event lead (2.5 hrs): Aila Jiang
Volunteers (2 hrs): Eddie Fu, Allen Gu
Parent on duty (2.5 hrs): Carol Li (Aila Jiang)
