It’s not every day that Weehawken students get a chance to learn about the customs, culture, and music of Africa.
However, when Arts Horizon, a federally funded educational group from New York, asked representatives of the school if they would be interested in having the students learn more about African customs in the classroom, they gladly accepted.
For eight weeks, three members of Arts Horizon, Vincent Ector, Karen Ector and “Baba” Larry Washington, came to all the classrooms of Webster, from pre-kindergarten through second grade, and taught the youngsters about music, art, language and dance. The students were instructed during their regularly scheduled music periods, which are taught by the district’s music teacher, Piero Romano.
“The kids really enjoyed the program,” Romano said. “It worked out really great. The kids had a lot of fun. They got exposed to all the different cultures from Africa. They kept stressing how music is universal.”
The students were helped in making African musical instruments, called shakers, taught how to play the African drums and instruments, and learned a dance from Liberia called “funga.”
“It’s a welcome dance,” Romano said. “The kids really got into learning the dance.”
Romano, who is an accomplished musician and plays in a band during his free time, said the program was beneficial to him as well. “It was basically like an eight-week workshop for me on African culture,” Romano said. “I got to learn the African music and rhythms.”
When the time came for Webster School to have its annual first grade music show, Romano thought it would be nice to involve the Arts Horizon people.
“It was just coincidence, but they asked to come back for the show,” Romano said. “I think we struck up such a good relationship that we were able to have them there for the show.”
The theme for the show was “Spring into Reading,” which focused on reading to follow suit for the “Read Across America” program, held nationwide March 3.
“We were able to sing a song honoring Dr. Seuss, but using African rhythms,” Romano said. “It really turned out to be great.”
Webster School Principal Tony D’Angelo was happy with the entire program. “Our students don’t usually get exposed to programs like this,” D’Angelo said. “It really was a good experience for our students. The program featured a lot of movement. I enjoyed seeing the kids getting up to dance. It was great the way Piero was able to incorporate them into the first grade show.”
Romano credited the efforts of the first grade teachers, namely show coordinator Janet Tenenbaum, Linda Malkin, Christie Dermody, Pam Murgo, Karen Murphy, Ixa O’Campo and Leah Ruppert for making the first grade assembly a rousing success.