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Shookstruck Trio performs for children

The Shookstruck Trio, made up of Matt Larson, Scott Christian and Rob Kistler, play the marimba and xylophone. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Fingers and toes were tapping Oct. 20 and 21 as all Wood County fourth graders attended a concert by the Shookstruck Trio comprised of three members of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

The programs at Blennerhassett School featured principal percussionist Matt Larson, percussion professor at Case Western Reserve University, principal timpanist Scott Christian, percussion professor at West Virginia State, and percussion section player Rob Kistler, who also plays with the Akron Symphony and the Canton Symphony.

The trio introduced the concepts of rhythm and melody while demonstrating the snare drum, bass drum, bongos, cymbals, tambourine, xylophone and marimba. Students also learned that hands are also percussion instruments as they participated in rhythmic clapping before hearing a piece called “Clapping Music” by Steve Wright performed with only hands. The trio also performed the piece “Board Games” by Joe Tompkins wearing gloves with pennies glued to the fingers.

The trio also demonstrated the unique sounds of the xylophone and marimba as they played three ragtime pieces arranged for these instruments. The final performance was a rendition of “Trio Per Uno” by Nebojsa Zivkovic featuring the bass drum, bongos and opera gongs.

The performance, along with two Young People’s Concerts for all second and third graders, and the Ohio Brass Concert for all fifth graders are presented each year by the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra-Parkersburg in cooperation with Wood County Schools with funding from the Henry Logan Children’s Foundation, the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, the West Virginia Symphony and the West Virginia Symphony League-Parkersburg.

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