Mickey Hart School Visit

Mickey Hart at Bridgeport Elementary

Bridgeport Elementary School got a surprise VIP visitor Friday when Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart helped 35 students at Bridgeport Elementary School learn their rhythms in a drum circle session and experienced the progress being made with Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds.

“Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds” will bring together 7,200 sixth and seventh graders of Santa Clarita Valley as well as an additional 3-4000 participants to attempt to break the Guinness record for the world’s largest drum circle.  Guinness adjudicators will be on hand to observe the students at Santa Clarita Valley’s College of the Canyons’ Cougar Stadium.

The year-long activities in support of the event will also draw attention to the need for sustainable arts programs in five local school districts. Preparation for the May 18program has included visits to area seventh grade classes and, over the next six weeks, will finish working with Santa Clarita’s sixth graders as well. The students will be led in their world-record attempt by legendary drummer Hart, as well as Remo Belli, owner of locally run REMO Inc.

“This kind of event is inclusive, not exclusive, and meant to enhance the community,” said Hart. “I strongly urge the community to get involved because it’s really for their benefit.”

Coinciding with Hart’s visit, “Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds” launched www.rocktherhythm.org.  The site showcases a countdown clock timed to zero out at 10:30 A.M. on the day of the event, along with links to the latest project news, information on participating organizations, and the “Video of the Day.”

The site also hosts a “Get Involved” page which provides information on sponsorship opportunities, a link for donations, and a link to the PAC’s Box Office where tickets can be purchased for the stadium event.  A Twitter feed — @RtR_BtO — also goes live, along with a Facebook presence.

Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY5t3GdHsFo&feature=player_embedded#!

PAC K-12 Arts Education Outreach Program

The PAC K-12 Arts Education Outreach Program continues to provide opportunities for the youth of the Santa Clarita Valley through valuable partnerships with major arts organizations in California and across the nation. The program uses College of the Canyons’ cultural and community resources to expose student population to top-tier, visual and performing arts standard-based arts activities and integrated performing arts learning opportunities.  The outreach program has at its core a collaborative approach, partnering with teachers and administrators in school districts, and community-based organizations throughout the area to develop an enhanced arts education curriculum and a variety of unique educational opportunities for all students. More information on the Outreach Program can be found online at http://www.canyons.edu/Offices/PIO/CanyonsPAC/k12arts.html

Beat the Odds

Launched at UCLArts and Healing, Beat the Odds is a drum circle-based activity that seeks to maximize creative expression while building social and emotional skills, emphasizing the process of learning over performance.  UCLA researchers have shown that Beat the Odds can significantly improve a spectrum of behavior problems in children, including inattention, withdrawn/depression, posttraumatic stress, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity, oppositional defiance, and sluggish cognitive tempo. www.uclartsandhealing.net/training.aspx

CONTACT:
Adam Philipson,
Managing Director
Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center
(661)362-5305