Clearview Elementary students are learning to drum, but not in music class. Instead, drumming has become part of their physical education curriculum.
Two years ago, P.E. teacher George Bienusa came across the drumming program while on a physical education website. The activity involves students using drumsticks to beat stability exercise balls that are placed on buckets to keep them stationary. The arm movements used for drumming are exaggerated and combined with dance steps for fun aerobic fitness.
He saw its potential and worked the activity into his P.E. curriculum.
Since then, all students at Clearview, K-5, participate in the drumming unit three to four times a year for four days. They love it.
“Since we only do this a few times a year the students are excited for the unit,” said Bienusa. “They like to hit the stability balls and get creative with the drumming. They enjoy the movement and cardiovascular activity versus the basic running and tag games.”
The drumming activity’s main health benefit to the students is cardiovascular, although muscle strength and flexibility are also gained. The program helps them practice and understand rhythm, too.
“This is a great interdisciplinary activity that helps the students to understand rhythm and beat in music,” said Bienusa. “When the students can learn rhythm and beat and then transfer it to music class it helps both the student and teacher.”
The students are highly engaged during the innovative activity, concentrating on and doing their best to imitate the rhythm and moves being shown on a video on the wall of the gym along with the beat of high-energy music.
Bienusa also has students challenge each other on drumming patterns during the unit.
The program has been around for a few years and has been gaining in popularity internationally. It follows a trend of school districts incorporating nontraditional exercises into their curriculum.
Bienusa believes he is currently the only P.E. teacher in the St. Cloud district that offers the drumming unit.
