They've Got the Beat

They made music by following the beating of their hearts.

Pre-schoolers at Apple Tree Arts spent the morning of Friday, June 3, learning and practicing the basics of Native American dance rhythms at their meeting at the second floor of the

Deer Heart, a member of the Nipmuc tribe, taught the children that a heartbeat-like rhythm forms the backbeat of Native American music. This was her final class in a series of eight visits.

The children played the drum and other instruments and danced to the rhythms.

Deer Heart often presents cultural programs to elementary school children and even adults, but she has never worked with this young a group.

And she is glad to have had the chance. “The younger you get them, the better they do,’’ she said. “All kids relate to music.’’

Apple Tree Arts has offered a series of cultural music programs, including Latin American and African drumming, to introduce youngsters to a range of musical styles, said Jan Barlow, education director of Apple Tree Arts.

“We want to get an array of multi-cultural artists to expose children to different sounds and instruments, in hopes of cultural barriers never having to rise,’’ Barlow said.