Drumming Up Character is a powerful, multi-disciplinary curriculum for arts education and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), combining ensemble drumming, dancing, character rap songs, and the performing arts. Designed to fulfill state and national educational standards, this unique program also includes reading, writing, and creative arts activities designed to build critical thinking skills.

Dancing Drum developed Drumming Up Character during a summer program with at-risk youth in Southern California. The challenge was to create a curriculum that would engage and inspire students grades K-8 to learn about good character and how to become a better person. That summer, the upbeat and fun style of the Drumming Up Character program created an environment where learning about good character was a “cool” thing to do. Students eagerly embraced the exciting music, and they worked together to learn the character raps, rhythms, and dances for their performance on Family Night.