Off Beat is the Houlton High School percussion ensemble that performs a variety of music ranging from concert literature to Latin and jazz pieces. All students in the high school band are invited to audition, a process in which they are judged on ability, effort, and an overall desire to work toward attaining fine percussion performances. For many of the members, percussion is not their primary instrument.
The group performs at local concerts and has traveled to several schools throughout Maine including Madawaska, Presque Isle, Ashland, Mars Hill, Katahdin, Hodgdon, and Mount Desert Island High School. The ensemble has also been selected twice to perform and present clinics at the Maine Music Educators Association Conference held at the University of Maine. During performances at schools and in communities, Off Beat also offers educational enrichment by explaining to audiences background information on different instruments they use.
Audience members are wowed with the level of musicianship of the students in the ensemble! Audiences enjoy watching students perform on a wide variety of traditional percussion instruments, as well as trash cans, plastic buckets, and even the kitchen sink.
Off Beat has had several international companies sponsor its educational tours, including the SABIAN cymbal company, Row Loff Productions music publishing company and the instrument case company, King Kong Kases. The ensemble gives out free promotional CDs, stickers, T-Shirts and other items to audience members. We know you will enjoy OFF BEAT.
“Off Beat” competed in New York City in May 2009. They received a gold rating and an adjudicator’s award in the competition.
Left: Rehearsing before competition in front of Grant’s Tomb.
Below: Performing “Stick Shtick” during competition.
"OFF BEAT:
It's Not How We Play,
It's How We Perform."
Off Beat performs on trashcans at the Focus on the Arts Concert in December 2009. This concert lets elementary students of MSAD #29 experience music of all types performed by the HS Students.
