Roots of Rhythm artwork | Pacer Graphic / Mekenzie Coleman
Roots of Rhythm, a highly energetic UT Martin percussion ensemble, performed on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, at the Civil Rights Conference.
Roots of Rhythm had the audience on their feet participating. The performance started in the Watkins Auditorium. The ensemble led the audience out to the lobby of Boling University Center. While in the lobby, they performed for about ten minutes before leading the audience back into the auditorium to finish their performance.
During their hour-long performance, Roots of Rhythm took the audience on a journey through Cuba, Trinidad and Brazil.
Not only did the group perform with captivating instruments, but they also performed cultural dances that they learned while in Ghana.
Some instruments used during the performance were steel drums, gyil, bata, shekere, tamboo bamboo, surdo, agogo, tamborim, mbiras, a frying pan and a glass bottle along with traditional percussion instruments.
Assistant Professor Dr. Brady Spitz is the current director of percussion. Roots of Rhythm is what the percussion ensemble calls themselves when they perform outside of the classroom. He and his students go to elementary and middle schools to educate and entertain students with music from around the world. Spitz said that even though he has the final say in what is played, he incorporates his students’ experiences of dance and rhythm. It is a collaboration between him and his students that proves to be a good combination. Spitz is always looking for energetic students that want to be part of Roots of Rhythm.
If you missed the performance from Roots of Rhythm, check out last year’s performance at Discovery Park of America: https://www.facebook.com/UTMPerc/videos/1113180962807175
Before COVID, a group of students went to Ghana. What the students learned on their trip has been incorporated into their performances. Not only does Roots of Rhythm play instruments of African descent, but they also perform a native dance from that region.
Ben Larkin, who has been a member of Roots of Rhythm for four years, first saw Roots of Rhythm in 2016. He was motivated then to attend UT Martin so that he could be part of the group. What he enjoys most about Roots of Rhythm, Larkin said, is “introducing people, especially young students, to music from other cultures that they normally wouldn’t experience in their day-to-day lives. Music can connect people to the rest of the world and Roots helps show that in an entertaining way.”
The next public performance by Roots of Rhythm will be at Discovery Park of America on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22. The next Percussion Ensemble concert at UT Martin will be Sunday, April 2, at 3 p.m. in the Fine Arts building.
The percussion ensemble is open to all students of UT Martin, major and non-major alike. No experience is necessary. If you want to be part of the Roots of Rhythm or want more information about the percussion ensemble, contact Dr. Brady Spitz at bspitz@utm.edu. If you are not a music major, you will need Dr. Spitz’s permission to register for the percussion ensemble. To learn more about Roots of Rhythm or the percussion ensemble, visit their UT Martin website at https://www.utm.edu/academics/music-ensembles/percussion-ensemble.php.
The website also lists other music opportunities that require no experience or are open to non-music majors.
