“We were very moved by the presentation given to us by Art of Elysium Music Coordinator Nura Creitz,” said Pete Ellison, Founder of One World Rhythm, a Burbank based entertainment company.

The Art of Elysium’s programs are designed to inspire and empower kids through the arts. The lives of these children are largely filled with suffering, loneliness, fear and regimen. Artists have the unique ability to help children in need find a creative voice and discover a sense of individuality and self-efficacy, even in the midst of overwhelmingly difficult circumstances.

“Having been a parent of a sick, hospital confined child myself. I know what it is like to be afraid and lonesome in a hospital environment. Working with The Art of Elysium is a special opportunity to make a connection with hospital confined children and their families and to bring some of the joys of outside life into their hospital environment,” said One World Rhythm Events Coordinator Debbie Keith.

One World Rhythm will be doing ongoing work with the Art of Elysium beginning in early March 2011.

If you were one of the millions of people who tuned in to watch the 2009 edition of the Tournament of Roses Parade, you may have seen the Staff of One World Rhythm. Yup, we had an opportunity to ring in the New Year by drumming down the nearly 6 mile parade route.

Chosen as 3 of the 24 World Percussionists represented by percussion and drum head manufacturer Remo Incorporated, Richard, Debbie & I were at the start of the mega float unit. The float was presented by the National Association of Music Manufacturers, Sesame Street & Music for All. If you watched the parade, you will remember this as the Sesame Street float which also featured the 300+ member Bands Of America Honor Band, a jazz band & multiple vocalists.

The entry highlighted the wonders of making music and we were all very proud to be part of that message. The parade organizers also liked the entry as it was awarded the Presidents Trophy.

To read more of the story and to see a picture of this mega unit, visit http://www.namm.org/news/press-releases/namms-rose-parade-float-wins-presidents-trophy (In the photo the entry starts at the banner and spans all the way back to to the top of the hill in the background).

To find out more about community drumming or for additional information on how you can hold your own drum event, please visit us at our web site at http://oneworldrhythm.com

We hope your 2009 is full of fun, opportunity & enlightenment.

Pete Ellison
One World Rhythm

Drumming outdoors on a beautiful Saturday morning… fun, vibrant, and energetic. Hand drums, shakers, tambourines, and other percussion instruments are provided.

Where else can you beat out your latest aggression without getting into trouble? Drum Downtown offers a unique outdoor drumming experience on the Music Center Plaza between May and September. For drummers and non-drummers who live life on the beat.

WHERE: Music Center Plaza
WHEN: 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
ADMISSION: FREE
First come, first served.
No advance reservations needed. You are also welcome to bring your own percussion instruments.

MAY 10

Drum Downtown is part of the programming at the Music Center called “Active Arts” which provides opportunities for people to dance, play music, sing and tell stories and is offered free to the public from May through September.

This program is funded in part by the Irvine, Parsons, Ahmanson, Annenberg, Doolittle and Wachovia foundations.

In addition, Drumming Downtown is enthusiastically supported by Remo Incorporated who is generously providing drums and percussion instruments for everyone to use.

Click Here For Free One World Rhythm Party Postcards

Need help with a cake, or other party items, drop us a note.

Party themes can be found in all shapes and sizes, from my little princesses to NASCAR, Star Wars to the Flintstones.  Although matching paper plates, cups and napkins are all “nice”, the truly adventurous party planner will want to think outside the box and beyond pin the tail on the Chubaka.  Which brings us to the topic of what to “do” at the party…what…to…do.

Fortunately, the subject of what to do at the party also addresses the burning question, “How Can a One World Rhythm party make my (birth) day?”  One World Rhythm has worked with all kinds of people, from the very young to the very young at heart.  And yes, we have even worked with (dare we say) teenagers (which most parents will agree) can be difficult to party plan for.  None-the-less, our unique brand of entertainment keeps your crowd engaged in a group music making experience where they make the music using percussion and other instruments that we provide.  No prior musical experience is necessary and with the help of our skilled facilitators everyone walks away feeling great about themselves and each other.  The one hour session is cleverly mixed between rhythm jams, rhythmical games and multi-media. 

Before your guests know it, time has flown by and your need to “do” something has been creatively addressed and as to your “theme” party, we can help you with ideas on that too..  The end result will be a party that stands out from all the others and a host that everyone will talk about (positively) for years to come.  One World Rhythm events work for all occasions.  Yes, we have used birthday parties in this article as a means of example, but if you have a gathering that you are planning and you want something new and different to “do” with your guests, an activity that has EVERYONE participating, then One World Rhythm is just what you are looking for.

When you are ready to go beyond the average get together, bring Rhythm to your next event and see how it can make your day!

For more information or to book One World Rhythm for your next special event, please contact us at (818) 332-0679 or visit the web page at http://oneworldrhythm.com.

Recently, a very nice Korean family participated with us in a Kids Rhythm Adventure open house. With the exception of their little boy (6-ish), no-one in their family spoke a lick of english. Although our staff had no experience speaking Korean, the language barrior was simply not an issue. Everyone enjoyed creating “in the moment” music together. After an active evening of fun music creation and activites, we parted as new friends from the experience. Although no words were spoken the night of that open house, we laughed, had a great time and enjoyed each other’s company as our group music making lifted all of our spirits in One World Rhythm. In reflecting back, I can’t think of a more appropriate name for a company such as ours.

If you have not experienced in the moment group music making, I invite you to contact us or a local drum circle in your area to check out the magic you have been missing. No experience is necessary, only a desire to have a great time.

Pete Ellison
President
One World Rhythm, inc

http://oneworldrhythm.com

By DIANE REED
Anaheim Hills News

Libraries used to be quiet zones, where no one spoke above a whisper and librarians wagged their fingers and “Shhhshed” anyone that did. That is no longer the case.

One World Rhythm rocked the Canyon Hills Library Wednesday and the library staff joined in the noisy fun.

The interactive music program was a first at the local library. And, from the moment Pete Ellison and his percussionists Debbie and Richard Keith began distributing drums, apple-shakers, boom-whackers, maracas, and tambourines to the 114 children and their parents who attended their program, it seemed certain, it wouldn’t be the last.

“Think about the last time you were at the beach and the waves were washing against the shore,” Ellison told the group. “There’s a rhythm to that sound. Today we are going to create and learn a one world rhythm using percussion instruments.”

Beginning by rubbing their hands together quietly, Ellison led the group through a variety of rhythms and sounds they could make with their hands. Gradually he added different beats and instruments and began to compose a queer kind of percussion symphony, played by novice musicians who ranged in age from toddlers sucking pacifiers to senior citizens.

Ellison, a former computer programmer and information tech, said he always wanted to do something like this, and one day he decided to just do it.

“One World Rhythm was created as a company, to fill an interest in recreational music making,” he said. “We are almost two years old and now we are serving a diverse population at schools, libraries, corporate events, senior citizen homes, birthday parties, festivals and fairs. And, we’re seeing more interest all the time.”

His program is not about teaching musical skills or techniques. “It’s about expression,” he said.

The kids at Canyon Hills Library were expressing themselves with gusto.

“I thought it was great,” Shellie Wheatley, the mother of Trevor, 7, and Hayden, 2, said. “I thought Hayden wouldn’t be interested but he was really into it.”

Library Manager Karen Gerloff was enthusiastic about the program, too.

“I loved it and the parents remarked that they had as much fun as the kids,” she said.

Although the sound level was extreme, one toddler slept quietly in her mother’s arms throughout most of the program, waking toward the end and looking bewildered by the actions of those around her.

Paula Peterson brought her daughters Lynnea, 3, and Summer, 5, and a friend Spencer Riley, 6, to the program.

“It was energetic and rousing,” she said. “I think the kids enjoyed it a lot. It allowed them to make noise like they don’t get to at home.”

To learn more about One World Rhythm, call 818-332-0679 or visit www.oneworldthythm.com.

There, before the lights of the holiday tree and roaring fireplace we gathered and created music together.Everyone had such a great time, I’ve been asked to do it again.  This is such a great way to share in an activity together and really have lots of fun.  If you don’t have percussion instruments handy, no worries.  Find things around the house that can be converted into a percussive instrument.  Here are a few hints:Get a package of chopsticks (they are really inexpensive), have your guests break apart the chopsticks (which will be used as strikers for some of your instruments).  Bust out some pots and pans, an old water bottle, a lunch box or tupperware.  Speaking of tupperware, fill a small container with rice or uncooked beans and you’ve got a nice little shaker.  The key is to be creative.  Speaking of keys, string some keys together and you have a perfect jingle type sound.  

Here’s another idea, let your guests make their own instruments with the items you’ve supplied.   You and your guests will have a great deal of fun and you will be surprised at how cool the end result is when everyone is tapping out a groove together. Let us know how your party turns out.