A percussion quartet that finds music in everyday items is coaching a group of North Texas college students in the unique sound.
The New York-based SO Percussion Quartet thinks outside of the box in terms of instruments.
"There is a lot of interesting sound in the world, and we just want to do it in a way that is accessible to people," quartet member Eric Beach said. "I had to play a piece once where I took off my shirt and played coconuts on my chest."
From coconuts to glass bottles and hair clips, the quartet is making the art of percussion popular.
"People have a lot of questions, like, 'How do you even do this for a living?' It's a super weird thing to do for a living," Beach said.
Students at the University of North Texas had the chance Friday to learn from some of the best.
"I am still in shock that this is working out the way it did," music major Chris Billings said. "It is a piece that they commissioned -- it was written for them. We just started learning it this semester, unknowing that they were coming."
He is part of a quartet at UNT that wants to follow SO Percussion's lead and make a name in the music world.
"They are definitely pushing the boundaries of our art form -- using new technology, new techniques -- and the success they are getting is very remarkable," Billings said.
Amid its success, SO Percussion still takes time to inspire future musicians.
"I feel like it is a pretty unique experience," music major Damon Kelley said. "It's invaluable, really."
