Discover Delmarva Arts: Prince Street Elementary Percussion Club
SALISBURY, Md. — Walk down the halls of Prince Street Elementary School after school one day, and you’ll hear it before you see it — the sound of students drumming away in PE teacher Dustin Thomas’ percussion club, Rhythm and Roots.
In Rhythm and Roots, students drum along to high-energy hip-hop and pop songs using bucket drums, bongos and drum kits that keep the energy high and the learning fun.
Students can also make a rap or learn to DJ using the school’s audio equipment.
“The kids now learn how to DJ and how to play drums. We had a breakdancing piece. We also have a recording studio,” Thomas said. “They can come lay down a track if they want to rap, sing, or do poetry. We have multiple options for them to express themselves through the urban arts.”
Thomas started the club in 2017 to help three students remember their father, a gospel drummer, who passed away.
“I played drums growing up in school. So, I saw that they were struggling, and I tried to do something after school with them just to get them an outlet to remember their father. That kind of led to other kids wanting to join [the club],” Thomas said.
Now, several years later, students at Prince Street continue to build confidence and express themselves through the club.
“Maybe they’re having a bad day, and they can come into the studio and get that out of their system. Maybe something bad happened, and they need to let some energy out, so they drum for 60 minutes. I think it gives them multiple ways to express themselves in a positive way,” Thomas said.
To Thomas, music is a universal language that kids from all backgrounds can speak and learn from. He said, “We have kids who aren’t from America come in and know songs that people here in America sing. So, it’s a universal language. Kids love it. They sing all day long, so why not combine the two and have a program?”
And when he’s not running the DJ board at Prince Street, Thomas is busy with his nonprofit, Droppin’ The Beat, helping young people of all ages unlock their creativity through the arts.
“When we go in public, parents always ask, ‘How can my kids get involved?’ Before, it was just a Prince Street thing. But now, with the nonprofit piece, I can invite the community to a central location to join,” Thomas said.
From the classroom to his nonprofit, Thomas is giving students the tools to express themselves and discover their talents.
For more information on how to donate to or join Droppin’ The Beat, visit https://droppinthebeat.com/
