Drumming it into Sisters teachers

Hakim Muhammad made an encore visit to Sisters Middle School for another drumming workshop last week. He worked with the school's teachers early on Wednesday morning starting at 7:30 a.m.

Muhammad began his workshop by saying, "This is all about communication and cooperation." When he was at Sisters Middle School last October, his workshop with the teachers produced a performance that fell short of what the students were able to produce, much to the teachers' chagrin.

The gauntlet was thrown, and on Wednesday the teachers set out to prove that they could excel. They poured their hearts into the session. Experience joined with a great team spirit allowed the staff to produce a drumming session that impressed the master and left the students to play catch-up.

Before it became an obsession, the competition was shelved for the time being, as the students prepare for their public drumming session at this weekend's Celebration of the Drum festivities.

Americana Project students have practiced and prepared, honing their formidable skills.

They will demonstrate their prowess during the Celebration of the Drum at Caldera on Sunday, June 3, at 2 p.m., at the Blue Lake center located approximately 17 miles west of Sisters.

The Celebration of the Drum is Caldera's multicultural percussion extravaganza that brings area middle school students on stage in performances with world-class musicians Obo Addy, Portland Taiko, Catón Lyles, Hakim Muhammad and Brian Davis of Pink Martini fame.

The event is free of charge and open to the public and will showcase the efforts of the Sisters Middle School Americana Project students.

Students representing other district middles schools from Central Oregon will also be performing. A full afternoon of concert entertainment will feature all of the artists joined by the area's middle schoolers.