All Over Albany

Let's Drum

Project: Let's Drum, a music program that includes a rich mixture of hands-on play, lessons on history and culture, games and activities. It's looking to expand its offerings to better include people with disabilities.

Who: Jonathan Duda

Short bio
Jonathan Duda has always had a knack for sounds. Born and raised in Albany, NY, he found himself constantly tapping, knocking, whistling, etc. to which his mother would maddeningly respond, "Will you stop making that sound!" Having received his first drum set in high school and receiving years of training by local percussionist and writer, Bob Girouard, he soon discovered the (literally) "world" of percussion. He began collecting any objects that made sound (and the weirder the better!) from drums to shakers to bells to gourds.

At an education center in the Catskills where he worked as an outdoor educator for ten years, he would share his collection of noisemaking fun with the students. One day, a teacher approached him and said, "If I get a grant to fund you to come to my school, would you offer your program to my students?" It was then that the Let's Drum program was born.

Since 2006 Let's Drum has been offered at hundreds of venues "edutaining" thousands of participants throughout Upstate New York. Its rich mixture of hands-on play, lessons on history and culture, games and activities, is topped off with show-and-tell interludes never failing to produce exclamations of "Wooooooh!"

A description of the proposed project

Despite its popularity among schools, libraries, and day camps, Let's Drum has faced a challenge with one of its most requested audiences: those with disabilities. Parents and organizations have taken notice of the positive reactions from the occasional special needs individuals who have had the opportunity to participate in the program. I would love to be able to expand the program to provide the necessary accessibility for those with physical and mental disabilities.

A considerable investment is required for Let's Drum to be offered to this segment of the population due to their diverse needs. At a recent program for children on the autism spectrum, many were sensitive to varying levels of sound and requested covered ear protection that, unfortunately, was unavailable. Special stands for some of the drums would be of immense benefit to participants in wheelchairs, allowing them to play along at the same level as the others. The elderly, particularly those whose physical strength is limited, would appreciate durable, yet light-weight instruments to shuffle around during the program.

How would the grant money help?
I feel this small business improvement project would be an ideal recipient of the Startup Grant so that it can respond positively to the many requests of special accommodations it has received. Research has shown that music, particularly drumming, has immense therapeutic benefits. Someone who often resists social interaction may gain a heightened sense of community, or an individual struggling with arthritis may gain an increase in the flow of blood to the hands after drumming. The proper equipment for these individuals provided by this grant will help open up the program to a whole new segment of potential musicians.