• Home
  • Ethnomusic
    • Background
    • Affiliations
    • Past Highlights
  • Craig Woodson
    • Biography
    • Schedule
• Student Programs
  • Overview
  • Assemblies
  • Workshops
  • Residencies
  • Special Events
  • Aftercare
• Teacher Workshops
  • Overview
  • 1. Roots of Rhythm
  • 2. K-8 World Instruments
  • 3. Conflict Resolution
  • 4. African
    Drumming
  • 5. Drum Circle Facilitation
  • 6. K-8 Sound Shapes
  • 7. Drumming Techniques
• Drumming
  • Drum Lessons
  • African
    Drumming
  • Drum Circles
• Curriculums
  • Overview
  • World Drumming
  • World Instruments
• Concerts
  • Overview
  • Kronos Quartet
  • Orchestras
• Schedule an Event
• Products
  • Overview
  • Handle Leg Connectors
  • Instrument Making Supplies
    • Roots of Rhythm
    • World Musical Instruments

After moving to Ohio in 1989, Dr. Woodson was invited to bring his expertise as an instrument maker and educator to the Cleveland Orchestra for part of their family concerts. At CO, Charles Calmer wanted audience members to make a set of simple instruments and play along with the Orchestra on a commissioned work. After two of these successful concerts, Woodson was invited to present at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra, beginning associations with many other orchestras. In 1993, he began a 20+ year association with the Kronos Quartet presenting play-along concerts. His family presentations have now been performed in the U.S. and in Europe, most recently with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in 2014.

WHY SHOULD YOUR ORCHESTRA THINK ABOUT HOSTING AN EDUCATIONAL PLAY-ALONG CONCERT?

• Build Family and Young Audiences
• Connect Public with Your Orchestra: Audience Plays a ‘Gig’ with Professionals
• A Take-Home Creative Musical Experience: the ‘Drumpet’ is a 5-in-1 orchestral instrument!
• Many World Cultures Represented
• Appropriate and Fun for All Ages

PLUS...

YOUR AUDIENCE WILL:

• Have Fun making their own Drumpet.
• Listen to Your Concert
• Play Along with the Orchestra (On Concerto for Drumpet and other compositions)
• Want More Musical Experiences!

WHAT HAPPENS AT A TYPICAL EDUCATIONAL PLAY-ALONG CONCERT WITH DR. WOODSON?

• Instrument-making materials arrive 3 days before the event.
• Dr. Woodson, with an orchestra’s assistant, sets up stations for Drumpet making several hours before the concert.
• One hour before the concert, volunteers from the orchestra's staff help audience members assemble a Drumpet. Attendees go to various educational areas set up around the foyer, each about one instrument family.
• In the concert hall, after the orchestra has tuned, Dr. Woodson comes out to review how to play the Drumpet and follow his conducting directions and signs. The orchestra’s conductor enters.
• The orchestra begins the concert with standard suggested repertoire featuring sections of the orchestra.
• After several pieces, Dr. Woodson comes out to conduct the audience in Steve Smith's Shake, Rattle and Roar. After a few more orchestral selections, Woodson returns to conduct the audience in Concerto for Drumpet.
• With the Drumpet stored away, the last piece features the entire orchestra.

WHAT IS THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT?

• A community-building connection with the orchestra.
• Creative way for the concert hall to be part of the collective, performing experience.
• A hands-on introduction to musical families, generating more concert goers and music makers.

Download PDF with pricing
and other details.

COMMENTS

“I would recommend Dr. Woodson to any orchestra interested in creating a richly interactive experience for their patrons.”
Jamie Allen, Director of Education, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

FROM FAMILIES

“My daughter loved making her Drumpet and playing along with the orchestra—very inspiring.”

“When we got to the lobby, we couldn’t believe that the simple parts we saw on tables could be used to make music, but the instrument we made really worked. Later we played with the orchestra.”

“Our children, ages 4 and 7, had great fun with their Drumpets, and even my husband and I joined in with ours in the play-along pieces.”

“My daughter made an instrument with Dr. Woodson at a play-along concert over 15 years ago, and she still has it!”

“This was a great way for our family to connect with the orchestra.”