Conference opens to beat of African buckets

MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release Friday 11 August 2006 Conference opens to beat of African buckets The beat of African “drums” will resonate through the Hyatt Hotel Canberra on Monday morning when grade five students from Forrest School’s Bucket Band will welcome delegates to the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) eleventh annual research conference with their unique version of African percussion. The students, led by teacher Michael Rosenberg, have been invited to play at the opening of the conference entitled Boosting Science Learning: What will it take? on Monday 14 August. Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop will officially open the conference at 9.00am. The children make their instruments from recycled 25 litre plaster, chlorine and nappy buckets, which have been picked up on the side of the road or donated, and sticks made from lengths of dowel with the ends rounded. Fry pans, plastic bottles and lids are also used. The Forrest School Bucket Band was founded in 2005 by Mr Rosenberg as an alternative activity for students who had not been selected for the school band program. Mr Rosenberg, an enthusiast of African percussion music, said he began playing conga drums around six years ago and wanted to pass on some of the easier rhythms to his young charges. “We play traditional African polyrhythmic beats. Five to eight different parts make up a well balanced total sound.” Forrest School Bucket Band will play as delegates arrive for the opening of the conference from 8.40-8.55am. Minister Bishop will then open the conference with ACER chief executive Professor Geoff Masters. ****************ENDS*************