At the Berkowitz School Winter Concert this week, fourth-grader Yandeliz Rodriguez-Gonzalez revealed something about herself:
Berkowitz fourth grader Yandeliz Rodriguez-Gonzalez is shown drumming during Tuesday’s Winter Concert at the school. She is one of about 20 kids from the Berkowitz that are part of the Berkowitz Advanced Drummers – a program that is three years old. She said drumming is just in her blood.
drumming is just in her blood.
The instrument runs in her family. Her father regularly plays the bongos at home, and that musical foundation clearly influenced her own path.
When Berkowitz introduced its Drum Corps two years ago, Yandeliz jumped at the opportunity and has remained committed ever since.
“I love the salsa rhythm; it’s just in my blood,” Yandy expressed. “I got inspired to play the drums from my dad because he is a drummer. My dad is Puerto Rican and he’s been playing the drums since he was little. He has taught me the salsa rhythm and I have enjoyed playing at school now too. It feels great to play with others. They are with me and understand me and understand why I’m so obsessed with drums.”
The Berkowitz Advanced Drummers, known as B.A.D., brings together roughly 15 young musicians under the direction of music teacher Richard Romanoff. His vision extends beyond percussion alone—students may also pursue keyboards, violin, or ukulele as part of the program designed to introduce instrumental music to younger learners.
“The drumming group has been a very positive experience and has become very popular with the students here,” Romanoff explained. “I’m just trying to open up opportunities for students and give them as many opportunities as I can to help them make music.”
Before arriving at Berkowitz three years ago, Romanoff had spent 11 years at Somerville High School, according to Principal Adam Deleidi. The shift to teaching elementary-age students and witnessing how younger children engage with music motivated his move to the school.
“He’s done a lot with instruments and the drumming group is one example of that,” he noted.
Only four weeks into the program, fourth-grader Daniel Booth has already discovered that drumming serves both as a creative outlet and as a tool for understanding math—his favorite subject.
“It is like math because you really need to look at the symbols and have to know when to start and end and stop,” Daniel remarked. “It takes math to know what you’re going to do. My teacher, Mr. V, taught me math is always going to be in your life even when you’re not in school.”
This marks Daniel’s introduction to playing an instrument, and he has already concluded he should have started drums much earlier.
“I’ve learned you can do different tones on a drum and you can really do anything on a drum,” he stated. “Drumming has become one of my favorite things of all because I always have been thinking about the beat in my head. Every time I drummed on a desk or on a book, I felt like it had a good beat to it.”
For Yandeliz, the drumming program has become something of a morning refuge at school.
“To me, it’s kind of calming,” she reflected. “It’s like talking with music.”