Students in Shere Khan percussion ensemble learn about other cultures through music

Xylophones, a tubano drum, recorders and gyils are some of the instruments that enable Shere Khan musicians at Cape Girardeau Central Middle School to make music and learn about other cultures through sound.

The percussion ensemble has grown from 15 to as many as 50 members in six years. Currently there are 33 student musicians.

The students play several instruments during practice and performances, rotating from one to another.

"That's what makes it fun," said Anne Meredith, a fifth-grader in the group who said she likes playing the gyil best because of the variety of sounds it makes. A gyil, pronounced JEE-lee, is a wooden xylophone.

Anne said the best part of performing is "making my parents proud."

Student Sierra Jones said writing the group's original song, "Omoshiroi," was fun for her. The best part of performing for Sierra is "seeing the audience's reaction."

The song's name means "enjoyable" in Japanese. Pam Dumey, one of the group's directors, picked the name. She takes Japanese language lessons from student Risa Tanaka's mother, Chiffuni Tanaka.

To create the song, "we just pulled out everything we like playing with," Dumey said.

Student Steven Hendricks played a solo on the ocarina, a round flutelike instrument in their original composition.

Central Middle School principal Mark Kiehne said he was proud of the students and teachers involved.

"I am amazed by the talents and work ethic of the students, as well as Ms. Dumey and Ms. Cannon," he said. "They demonstrate the qualities of excellence that every school seeks of its programs and students."

The fifth- and sixth-grade students rehearse twice a week at 7:15 a.m. until school starts, except when a performance is coming.

"I'm always looking for performance opportunities," said Jan Cannon, who also directs the group. "We do as much performing for local civic organizations as possible."

Dumey said the group's recent performances for the state Optimist conference and the Presbyterian Education Organization are a good contribution to the community.

The students performed at the Martin Luther King birthday extravaganza in January at the Osage Community Centre. Dumey said the group has performed every year at the Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebrations in Cape Girardeau.

In January the group performed at the Missouri Music Educators Association state conference at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Mo., for 500 music educators. It was the second time Shere Khan was selected through competitive audition to perform at the conference; the group also was chosen in 2005.

Shere Khan was also selected by competitive audition to perform at the 2006 National American Orff-Schulwerk Conference in Omaha, Neb.

Dumey, who is a certified Orff-Schulwerk teacher said all music classes at the middle school use the Orff-Schulwerk teaching approach, which introduces musical concepts through imitation. The students then explore the concepts through improvisation and finally use them in creating and composing.

"The focus has always been to give highly motivated students the opportunity to increase their musical skills and use their natural creativity," Dumey said in an e-mail. "The kids work really hard and are always eager to try new things."

The group performs a variety of music -- both newly composed and traditional, influenced by a variety of musical cultures.

The 2009 music educators concert included a song based on Egyptian rhythms; a song they wrote themselves; an African song that was taught by Sowah Mensah, a master drummer who spent a week in residency playing with and performing with Central students; a piece by German composer Carl Orff; a calypso; and their signature piece, "Shere Khan" by Paul Corbiere, a friend and colleage of Dumey's who writes pieces for the group. Corbiere sends new things he is working on for the group to try out and give feedback on.

cpagano@semissourian.com

388-3648

More online

Go to semissourian.com to watch a video clip of Shere Khan performing earlier this year.