Despite the line from the old song, it’s not so much the hills that are alive with music as it is urban neighborhoods.
The soundtrack to many cities is the beat of a drum. Sometimes people just need to make music, even if all they have is a plastic bucket and some sticks.
This is the concept behind a program called Percussion Discussion held at Marist High School, where professional drummer Crystal Vargas works with kids to help them learn “the beat.”
“We’re probably Home Depot’s biggest customer,” Vargas joked.
She started the music program earlier this year, incorporating bucket drummers who can perform at various school and other functions.
“It doesn’t cost a lot and yet it sounds good,” Vargas said.
The program involves about 40 kids and rehearsals once or twice a week. The group performs at pep rallies, fashion shows, and basketball games.
Vargas said these are kids without previous musical experience. None have played drums before. Part of her effort is to teach them to learn various beats, and incorporate hip hop and other styles.
Azrielle Davis, a senior at the high school, said she liked the idea of playing the buckets with sticks and a brush, and never saw a street performance of this kind.
Ericka Marasigan, a sophomore, joined to try it out.
“I always wanted to play drums,” she said.
So she beats on a bucket, plays at home, and even plays on her locker.
Fundraising to cover the cost of the club comes in a variety of ways, such as bake sales. But Vargas said the club is always hoping for donations. Buckets wear out, and so do drumsticks.
Vargas attended elementary school in Jersey City and then went on to graduate from Marist High School. She later graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick. She is currently pursuing her master’s in elementary education specialization at The College of New Jersey.
“Because my father was an aspiring salsa band leader, I had the privilege of surrounding myself around music at a very early age.” – Crystal Vargas
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She played her first instrument at 4. By the time she was 6, she performed on two nationally televised Spanish television shows (“Sabado Gigante” and “Mediodia”) and a live radio talk show (“The Vicki Sola Show”). Her primary instruments are the congas, bongos, and timbales.
“Because my father was an aspiring salsa band leader, I had the privilege of surrounding myself around music at a very early age,” she said. “I now play professionally and have sat in with Grammy Award winning hip-hop artists Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, and many salsa music legends. I am currently playing for Jared ‘Choclatt’ Crawford, a renowned drummer who has played with Amerie, Alicia Keys, Kelis, Lauryn Hill, and Aretha Franklin, among others.”