Chords for Fox 9 Interviews WITNESS: Stomp & Sing Guest Artist Melanie DeMore

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It's an opportunity for local students to learn about African-American contributions to the arts.
Well last week some fourth graders got a lesson in stick pounding and Emma Roscoe was there for the musical education. _
_ _ _ _ _ _ Melanie DeMoore is [B] teaching fourth graders stick pounding. _ _ _
[N] _ _ _ The _ _ _
_ [F] tradition comes from the Gullah South Sea Islands off the coast of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
The Gullah developed stick pounding so enslaved people from different parts of [N] Africa could communicate. _ _ _ _ _
_ These _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ kids from Haranby Elementary now speak the language too. _
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_ _ _ It was really great because it gave me a chance to be who I am and now music is a part of my heart.
It's also a lesson in your own collective energy.
When you have all these folks pounding and moving together for that moment we are one heart.
And that's one of the things that's important to me about bringing Gullah stick pounding.
And it lifts you up.
It really lifts you up.
And in the tradition _ the people would pound and they would dance [E] and it was a spiritual thing.
And that in the moments that they were pounding together and moving together and singing together in those moments they were [Gm] free.
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[N] _ _ _ _ And even when she can't carry a stick around Melanie can still carry a rhythm.
What do you carry in your pocket at all times?
You know because you can't be walking around pounding sticks on the pavement so in my pocket I always carry eight quarters.
Let's see them.
Can I count them?
Sure.
_ I mean being a reporter I mean I have to verify.
Absolutely go ahead.
Okay.
It should be eight quarters.
Eight quarters.
Okay.
Yeah.
And it should be eight quarters.
Okay.
Is it eight quarters?
Yes.
Alright.
Three dimes.
Three dimes.
I have extra dime.
That means I must have went to get some coffee.
You got a little extra rhythm in you today.
I got extra rhythm in me.
Okay.
I'll keep that because I can use some if you don't have sand.
You keep that.
Five pennies.
Five pennies.
And two [E] nickels.
And two nickels.
And that helps you do what?
To keep the rhythm because you know you can't try to be walking [Ab] down the streets pounding.
Although I have been known to do it.
So I keep that rhythm _ in _ my pocket at all times.
It's okay if I come.
Come on baby.
Get those feet going.
_ _ _ _ _ [N] You want to try?
_ _ There you go baby.
And we're using these special sticks made for me by Takuma Aiken.
_ You got the rhythm.
I think you got it.
Baby you got it going on.
You got it going on.
In Maplewood, Emma Roscoe, Fox 9 News.
_ And you can catch Melanie D'Amore and Vocal Essence in Witness, Stomp and Sing on Sunday, February 9th.
It's at 4 p.m. at Orchestra Hall. _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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