Reviews and Comments

~ ON INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD OF PERCUSSION AND RHYTHM: 

: The two programs that you facilitated here at the Troy Public Library were wonderful. It was amazing how you were able to capture the preschoolers and toddlers attention and then, even more amazing how you kept them captivated. That's not an easy task with such young children but you appeared to do it quite naturally, with ease. The school age kids had a ball! … [T]here was a huge amount of focus and concentration put forth. I think every single person in the room forgot there was anybody else in the room at least once. What surprised me was that the parents had that same intense experience. Your ability to work a room, giving each and every person individual attention which keeping everybody in the room completely engrossed is a gift. 
- Kim French Kniele, Head of Young People's Services 
Troy Public Library, Troy, New York 

: Thank you so very much for the wonderful performance you provided … at the Bethlehem Public Library's Summer Reading Club "Blast Off" event. Your … workshop was both entertaining and informative. Every child present was given the chance to play at least three different percussion instruments during the program that invited full participation. Your collection of instruments was incredible, and your interactive presentation was lively and kept the children interested … It is no wonder that the children (and the adults present) really seemed to enjoy this evening with you! I highly recommend your program, and hope we can arrange … workshops in the future at BPL. Again, I wish to express our sincere thanks to you for a memorable event. 
- Lucinda Robertson, Librarian, Youth Services Dept. 
Bethlehem Public Library, Delmar, New York 

~ ON MAKING AND PLAYING PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS OUT OF FOUND OBJECTS: 

: This is to congratulate you on the very successful music workshop that you conducted this past summer as part of GCCA's SPROUTS fine arts program for three to seven year olds Thank you very much for agreeing to make the creative effort to tailor your skills and ideas to permit very young children to participate. As you know, I was interested in exploring ways to achieve a more immediate, hands-on kind of music making for the little children in our summer programs than we have been able to offer in years past. You inspired me with some genuinely new ideas with which, in the future, I will be able to inspire others leading children's workshops in music. 
- Judith Gomory, Director, SPROUTS 
Green County Council On The Arts, Catskill, New York 

: Thank you for the excellent workshop series that you presented to my 84 sixth grade students. The workshops allowed students to experience the thrill of making, practicing, and performing with the instruments that they had created out of existing objects. This dovetailed perfectly with our curricula in science, art, music, and history. The workshop day was a perfect springboard to creating excitement in recycling. We all look at the world in a renewed way. The students are able to look beyond an object's purpose original purpose and see what music can be created with a Pringles can. Following your workshop, the students created all four instruments in art, practiced with them in music, and finally performed for their classmates. Please keep teaching. Your enthusiasm for your work is exactly what students need to see. 
- Julie Dwyer, Classroom Teacher 
North Colonie Central Schools, Newtonville, New York 

~ ON ARTS AS A CAREER LECTURE: 

: Thank you so much for speaking to our eighth grade Home and Career Skills students about careers. The information you provided about your experiences as a musician is an invaluable resource to our students. The handouts that you gave us will be used for all students who are interested in music in the future. Your interest in the success of future musicians is genuine which allowed our students to really absorb what you had to share with them. Your overall advice on marketing oneself and perseverance makes your presentation global and relevant to all career areas of success. Thank you for sharing your talent with young students who are just beginning to see their own relevance to the world at large. 

- Sandra Catricala, Home and Career Skills Teacher, Ballston Spa Middle School, Ballston Spa, New York 

~ ON ASSISTING MUSIC & CHORUS DIRECTORS: 

:Mr. Melick did a drumming workshop with the 6th and 7th/8th grade choruses … 
I found Mr. Melick was not only knowledgeable but also able to adapt his ideas to fit the students' abilities. He also took the time to listen and think of ideas that would fit into songs the choruses were preparing to perform. He did this before working with the kids. The choruses received many compliments from the community regarding their performance. 
- Stacey L. Wright, Director 
Berne-Knox-Westerlo Middle School, Berne, New York 

: I have had the extreme honor of working with Brian Melick who appeared as a guest clinician at our school facilitating master classes for students in grades 6-12 in hand percussion. To begin, his presentation was flawless. He had the students captivated before his formal introduction. His energy is remarkable. His command of the art form, extraordinary. Our first encounter with Mr. Melick came by way of invitation to fine tune a group of drummers … He explained the particular roles of each of the instruments … through demonstration and on-the-spot analysis of student work. Needless to say after 45 minutes with Brian the project took on a whole new light. As a result, I invited Mr. Melick back a second time to coach an after school drum project. Again, his presentation, manner and obvious enthusiasm added a new dimension to our students work. They absolutely loved him. 
Brian Melick is the embodiment of all that is good with music education and hand drumming in particular. My only regret is that we cannot invite him to our school on a weekly basis. 
- Robert Button, Band Director 
Doyle Middle School, Troy, New York 

: I want to thank you for the outstanding Latin percussion Presentation / Clinic you conducted for the Mohonasen Senior High School Field Show Band this year. Your percussion knowledge and expertise was timely and well received … 
Your demonstration on the basic family of Latin instruments increased our group's understanding and appreciation of the beauty and diversity of this type of music. With your attention to details, such as varying the dynamics and touch, you brought new dimensions to the music. I also want to commend you on your interactive, hand-on approach and treatment of both band instrumentalists and percussion students in the rehearsal portion of the workshop. This attention to detail in the workshop helped the entire band grasp the stylistic elements of Latin music and execute them with tremendous excitement and a heightened achievement level. The excellent rapport you established with our students is impressive. Your strong ability to gain the students' attention and focus on the key elements lacking the band's performance also deserves my utmost praise. As a result of your presentation, our band's performance reflected the fiery spirit of the music and captured the intensity, drive, and passion judges expect in live performances. 
- David G. Bournazian, Band Director/Facilitator Fine Arts K-12 
Mohonasen Central School District, Schenectady, New York

 ~ THANK YOU'S FROM THE STUDENTS: