Fast fingers flew across a sitar, followed by hands dancing across a drum instrument called a tabla.

About 100 University High School music students watched Indian musician Sandip Burman perform during an interactive clinic on Wednesday. A native of Dargapur, India, Burman is an accomplished tabla player known for his complex rhythmic patterns performed at dazzling speeds.

First, he demonstrated playing the sitar, a 20-string instrument used in India to play melody, called Raga. Burman answered questions, followed by his playing of complex rhythms on the tabla. Before the sessions ended, he had students following a pattern of claps and singing accompanied by his drum playing.

“That’s some of the fastest drumming I’ve ever seen in my life,” said student Sean Gienapp, who plays the trumpet and enjoys jazz music. “It was different from anything I’ve seen.”

Burman played the tabla with quick motions that ranged from using his fingertips, parts of his whole hand to his wrists.

The musician compared the improvising he does with his music to a verbal conversation with a new acquaintance. “First, I establish the note, then it’s let’s get to know each other, and after that it’s improvising.”

He urged students to work hard.

“Practice, practice, practice,” he said. “There’s no shortcut. Your teacher can show you a good note and a good rhythm and then you have to practice.”

U-Hi student Chris Byer was impressed.

“It was amazing,” Byer said. “The effort and emotion he put into the music was unbelievable. The rhythms are way more complex. Some of the separation between the notes was very interesting.” Burman performs internationally and is currently touring high schools and universities offering music clinics that offer perspective on Indian music. He also visited East Valley High School.

Memorial tree planting at EVHS

A May 24 tree-planting ceremony at East Valley High School is scheduled to remember students who died tragically before graduation.

“We’re planting a tree in the high school courtyard in memory of students through the years whose lives were taken through various tragedies before they were able to graduate,” said organizer Bev Schaefer. “I have been searching for a tree type that will be showy throughout the year, or at least in the spring and fall.”

The public is welcome to attend the 6:30 p.m. ceremony at the school, 15711 E. Wellesley.

“We’d like anyone to come who believes these lives should not be forgotten, or anyone who lost a relative, friend or neighbor,” added Schaefer, who is a teacher at Otis Orchards Elementary. “I have lost a number of students during my teaching career. I just wanted to do something for them. They’re gone but not forgotten.”

The tree planting is sponsored by the Washington Education Association, Eastern Washington Branch.

EVHS art students earn honors

East Valley High School art students Christine Strong and Ariel Erickson won first-place awards in the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction All-State High School Art Competition. They will attend a ceremony Friday in Olympia to receive the awards during a reception at the Old Capitol Building.

For state qualification, both Strong and Erickson had placed first in the Educational Service District 101 High School Art competition. Strong entered a pastel, “Enough Already!” and Erickson won for “Riah,” a pastel.

CVHS FBLA supports March of Dimes

The Central Valley High School Future Business Leaders of America gave the March of Dimes a check for $2,677 at Spokane’s WalkAmerica held at Gonzaga University on April 21. FBLA members Andrea Avenger, Chris Driver, Andrea Freeman and Matt Kougl presented the check to Darah Poffenroth, March of Dimes district manager.

The FBLA group held its “Change for Babies” March of Dimes fundraiser during February. This is an annual competition between classes at Central Valley High School. Teachers received a “Change for Baby” baby bottle and encouraged students to collect donations during lunches, at basketball games, and from family and friends.

Teacher Scott Winslow‘s class collected a total of $1,265 and was rewarded with a pizza party and a traveling plaque.