Community

Drumming to happiness COMMUNITY

KEEPER OF THE BEAT Barbara Borden will offer a beginning drumming workshop at the Morgan Hill and Gilroy libraries.

Percussionist to lead workshop at local libraries

10 FEBRUARY 28, 2020 By KIMBERLY EWERTZ

Discovering one’s passion can sometimes take years, but for Barbara Borden, 74, first-class percussionist, teacher, composer and subject of the documentary film, Barbara Borden: Keeper of the Beat, that discovery came very early on.

Surrounded by music growing up, Borden’s love for it emerged in the form of drumming.

“I had a toy drum when I was 5, and I got my first drum set when I was 10, but in between that time I used pots and pans and that worked out very well,” Borden said, smiling. “I know that when I am drumming I feel uplifted, electric, connected to everything and everyone, deeply happy.”

Submitted photo

At 19, Borden moved to San Francisco from Los Angeles and began her career as a professional musician which has spanned more than 50 years. She’s traveled the globe as an essential member of numerous bands, “using music to strengthen and enliven the heartbeat of humanity.”

When her run with the all-women jazz quintet Alive! ended Borden experienced a deep void in her life. The search to fill that void eventually led her to the Transformation Institute where she experienced a holistic body-oriented way of teaching, which inspired her to utilize her musical talents through teaching others the meditative art of drumming.

“I like to teach people how to embody the pulse, because that’s where it lives, in your body,” Borden said. “That’s my goal to have that comfortable relaxed vibe going on. When you’re relaxed you can let go a little more and your heart has a better chance of opening.”

Thanks to Silicon Valley Reads, a program instituted in 2003 to promote literacy and community engagement, Borden is offering her beginning drumming workshop to the South County community.

“All of us at the Gilroy Library are excited that the theme for Silicon Valley Reads this year is ‘Women Making it Happen,’” said Kelly B. Young, supervising librarian for Adult and Teen Services.

Young believes Borden’s workshop is a perfect fit for this year’s theme and the community.

“We know that the Gilroy community is very musical and feel sure that this drumming workshop will have a wide appeal,” she said.

Borden is excited to offer this experience to a new audience as she feels there’s nothing quite like it.

“The real deal is that drumming is a mood transformer and everybody who drums with me, or at least 99 percent, always feel better at the end of the drumming,” Borden said. “They feel more exhilarated and enlivened and happier.”

Borden will be featured at the Morgan Hill Library on Saturday, March 7, and at the Gilroy Library on Sunday, March 8. Both workshops begin at 2pm, with each session lasting about 90 minutes. Registration is required and Borden will happily provide drums for all participants although she encourages anyone who has their own to bring it along.

“It’s open to men and women and if you’ve always wanted to drum and have fun doing it come see me, and come drum with me, we’ll have a lot of fun and laugh a lot,” Borden said. For information, tinyurl.com/ wqqpkpk, tinyurl.com/w62dnt5, or call 408.842.8207.

CALENDAR O A &

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GARDEN PLANNING Gardening enthusiasts are invited to plan their summer garden now with UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County’s Growing Warm Season Vegetables event. Learn about the basic requirements of warm season vegetable crops including soil, nutrients, pest control, harvesting tips and space-saving techniques. Warm season vegetables including tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers and squash will be discussed. There is no cost to attend, and registration is not required. Wednesday, Mar. 4, 7-8:30pm at Gilroy Library, 350 W. Sixth St. For information, visit mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu.

tour features 34 local artists and artisans. This special exhibition is free, open to the public and on display from Friday, Mar. 6. 10am to Saturday, April 4, 4pm at ARTspace Annex, 217 Fifth St., Hollister. For information, visit sanbenitoarts.org.

EVENTS

FAMILY FUN The family is invited to Free Family Fun Day: Whosits and Whatsits, a day inspired by the multi-layered art of Robert Armstrong and Jennifer Brook-Kothlow in Stretched, Strung and Strewn. All ages can enjoy free admission and activities. Saturday, Feb. 29, 11am-5pm at Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific St., Monterey. For information, visit montereyart.org.

JAZZ BASH Experience a full weekend party of early jazz at Monterey’s Jazz Bash by the Bay. This wall-to-wall weekend of vintage jazz and swing is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a festival that is bringing together the many colorful forms of the roots of early jazz. The festival highlights Dixieland, traditional jazz, swing, gypsy jazz, ragtime, blues and zydeco as dozens of guest bands, artists and youth bands perform throughout the weekend. Jazz Bash by the Bay will be held Friday-Sunday, March 6-8 at the Monterey Conference Center and Portola Hotel & Spa, Monterey. For tickets and information, visit jazzbashmonterey.com.

YOUNG EAGLES Kids ages 8-17 fly free at the Young Eagles Rally. Young aviation enthusiasts will get the chance to ride the skies on a safe and enjoyable flight and gain new perspectives on the world. Participants will receive a free 15- to 20-minute flight and follow the basic steps in the flight pattern. Saturday, Mar. 7, 9am-noon at the Watsonville Aviation Education Center, 60 Aviation Way, Watsonville. For information, visit eaa119.org/youngeagles. To register, visit youngeaglesday.com.

HISTORIC TOUR Learn about Gilroy’s historic districts the first Saturday of each month during Historic Walking Tours. Members of the Gilroy Historical Society on Saturday, Mar. 7, 10am-noon will host a free walking Women’s History Tour. Reservations are recommended, but not required. Meet at the Gilroy Historical Museum, 195 Fifth St. For information, call the Gilroy Museum at 408.846.0446.

CORKS & COPPERS The community is invited to attend “Corks & Coppers,” the inaugural benefit for Peace Officer Wives of California. The benefit includes wine, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction and raffle items and fellowship in a winery setting with proceeds benefiting first responder families. This non-profit organization is devoted to seeing law enforcement families thrive in all aspects of their lives, and provides support and education to help decrease divorce, suicide, depression and PTSD among peace officers and their families. Saturday, Mar. 7, 2:30-5pm at Lightpost Winery, 900 Lightpost Way, Morgan Hill. For tickets and information, visit faithwifehero.com/events.

JAPANESE JAZZ Worldrenowned drummer Akira Tana will bring consummate musical mastery into congruence with his deep Japanese cultural roots as he performs with his group, Otonowa in Watsonville. Guests will be treated to unique melodies as Tana and Otonowa perform Japanese jazz. Proceeds will benefit the Watsonville Buddhist Temple and City of Watsonville Kawakami Sister City Program. Saturday, Mar. 7, 3-6pm at Watsonville Buddhist Temple, 423 Bridge St., Watsonville. For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/srhvkf4.

VINTAGE TUNES Kelly Brewing Company welcomes the vintage blues, rock, funk and soul tunes of Eurotrash to its outdoor patio. Attendees are invited to taste the beer selection while listening or dancing to the music. Saturday, Mar. 7, 4-7pm at Kelly Brewing Company, 70 E. Fourth St., Morgan Hill. For information, visit tinyurl.com/v6d2q2u.

MARCH MIXER Soul Kiss Band will perform at The District Theater March Madness Mixer. Soul Kiss performs a variety of top pop, rock, country, hip-hop, old school, classic rock and R&B hits from today and yesteryear. Saturday, Mar. 7, 9pm-midnight at The District Theater, 7430 Monterey St., Gilroy. For information, visit soulkissband.com.

MURDER MYSTERY Friday the 13th is a fine night for a murder, and Gilroy Sunrise Rotary Club invites guests to don their most fabulous 1920s attire and assist in solving “Murder on the Boardwalk: A 1920’s Mystery.” Tickets are $60 per guest, and space is very limited. This murder mystery dinner also features a cocktail hour. Friday, Mar. 13, 6:30-10pm at Old City Hall Restaurant, 7400 Monterey St., Gilroy. For information, visit tinyurl.com/ tmhhuo3.