Spring Performance by Percussion Group at School of Music (2020)
UCLA Percussion Ensemble's "Scavenger Music" Adapts to Pandemic Challenges
The UCLA Percussion Ensemble's latest performance, titled "Scavenger Music" by Christopher Deane, showcases an innovative approach to musical performance that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A New Approach to Traditional Percussion
In a bid to overcome the limitations imposed by the pandemic, the ensemble turned to household items as their instruments. Performers used everyday objects such as pots, pans, boxes, water bottles, and kitchen utensils to create rhythmic and percussive sounds. This innovative approach not only made participation accessible to members regardless of their instrument availability but also highlighted the ensemble's creativity in sound-making.
Remote Collaboration and Innovative Arrangement
With traditional in-person rehearsals and concerts largely impossible due to social distancing measures, the ensemble adapted by recording their parts individually from their homes. Members often used video conferencing tools or recording software to submit their performances digitally. The ensemble directors then compiled, mixed, and edited these recordings to create cohesive ensemble pieces.
The music was composed or arranged specifically to incorporate the unique timbres and textures of household items, challenging both performers and listeners to rethink the boundaries of percussion music.
Engaging Students and Fostering Community
This project served as a way to keep students engaged in performance and music-making during lockdown, fostering a sense of community and collaboration despite physical separation. It also encouraged students to make their own instruments, further demonstrating the ensemble's resourcefulness in navigating the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Sharing Creativity with a Broader Audience
The completed performances were shared online via platforms such as YouTube or the UCLA music department’s website, allowing broader audiences to appreciate the creative response to pandemic challenges.
A Testament to Resilience and Resourcefulness
The UCLA Percussion Ensemble's "Scavenger Music" project is a testament to the ensemble's ability to collaborate and create music despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic. It is an impressive display of resilience and resourcefulness, embodying the spirit of innovation and adaptability that has become so crucial in the performing arts during these challenging times.
In the spirit of education-and-self-development and creativity, members of the UCLA Percussion Ensemble repurposed household items to create unique, percussive sounds for their innovative piece, "Scavenger Music." Despite challenges posed by the pandemic that prevented traditional in-person rehearsals and concerts, the ensemble embraced entertainment through music, engaging students and fostering community as they adapted, overcoming barriers with innovative arrangement and remote collaboration.
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