Dr. Geary Larrick Visits Gesell Institute
February 9, 2007Article by Kendra Smith
For more than thirty years, Dr. Geary Larrick has both entertained and educated children, students, and teachers of the Gesell Institute. As a part of the School of Health Promotion and Human Development, the Gesell Institute provides a unique learning environment for young children and a place where UW-Stevens Point students can gain experiences working with them. On February 9, 2007, Dr. Larrick performed once again for the class, using bongo drums, conga drums, and a xylophone. His performance included three original pieces, including one piece written by his own daughter Sulina. Sulina, a former student in the Gesell Institute, wrote “Jingle” when she was in sixth grade.
Dr. Geary Larrick, who has a Doctorate in percussion, was a professor in the Music Department at UW-Stevens Point for sixteen years. He has played for Gesell children since the 1970s, when his son Scott was a student there. Dr. Larrick plays a repertoire of more than 500 songs, and he has composed over 100 songs, including 4 symphonies.
“I love to do this sort of thing,” Dr. Larrick shared. “It’s important for someone my age to play for a young audience like this. It allows me to impart what I know to them, as they are used to listening to music on the TV or radio. It’s also rewarding for me too. It helps me to feel relevant and not over-the-hill.”
During his Gesell performances, Dr. Larrick emphasizes the importance of reading music, in hopes that children will remember seeing him reading and playing at the same time. Following each performance, the children are able to play with the instruments.
Lorrie Richardson, the director of the Gesell Institute, said of Dr. Larrick’s performances, “The content of his presentation is very appropriate for a young audience. It is such a wonderful opportunity for young children to hear all types of music and also to have the experience of hands-on exploration of unique instruments. We are looking forward to two more concerts by Dr. Larrick before the end of this semester.”