Kids Make One World Rhythm at Colton Public Library

The Colton Public Library planned a summer filled with events for the community children to not only encourage literacy by hosting educational events, but also to put on fun activities for children throughout their summer vacation. In connection with the summer reading program, which strives to prevent any reading loss within those summer vacation months, percussion group One World Rhythm stopped by to throw an exciting event of their own. On Monday, July 13, the library was filled with smiling children as they participated in interactive music activities with the upbeat and energetic musical group. “This event is in partnership with our summer reading program, which has a musical theme this year: ‘Read to the Rhythm,'” Library Clerk Christine Juedes explained. “The idea is to expose children to different types of music and get them to come to the library.” The Colton Public Library brought in One World Rhythm to do just that: expose children to different types of music, get them excited about learning, and simply have a good time. Pete Ellison, president and founder of One World Rhythm, and facilitator/event coordinator Debbie Keith were successful as they took over the room with their energetic performance, which didn’t only get the children smiling, singing and interacting, but got the adults doing it too. After warming the crowd up with a fun tune and yelling “yee-haw!” every time Ellison and Keith raised their arms, they started a more interactive game. Each person in the room was given a set of “boom-wacker” instruments, given to the children in hopes of one goal: to make the loudest noise with them. “The red boom-wacker is note C, the green boom-wacker is note G, and the purple boom-wacker is note A,” Ellison explained to the crowd, whom he later called “boom-wackees,” since they all technically became professionals at the instrument. They all contributed their own beat as they simultaneously made a tune together. Ellison and Keith then brought up three adult volunteers from each color group of “boom-wackers” to be their group’s team leader. They followed whatever their leader did, creating a tune with each color contributing. Ellison then brought out his own drum and added his beat, collectively creating their own song.