NY1’s latest New Yorkers of the Week are teaching children in the Big Apple about the sounds of music.

P.S. 234 in TriBeCa is alive with the beating of drums.

Kids from various schools in the area are rehearsing for their performance in the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade. They belong to Battery Drumline, a non-profit youth music program that features a drum ensemble with dancers.

Polar Levine and Curtis Watts, musicians and longtime friends, began the program as a way of sharing their passion for music with children.

“After 9/11 it seemed like we were made to do this,” says Polar. “We were made to work together. We were made to play music together, and we seemed to be able to bring it to kids.”

And so they shared their visions and created Battery Drumline from grants that grew out of funding for the area impacted by 9/11. The drumline, or bateria, is based on traditional Brazilian samba bands.

“It's a good chance to just put all my work away from school and just come here and drum,” says student Miles Arntzen. “It's pretty relaxing just to come here, even though it's loud.”

Classes are held Thursday evenings during the school year. It is open to children ages 11 to 17 for percussionists, and ages 9 to 17 for dancers, no experience necessary.

“Besides the routines we learn a lot of moral stuff, from just like Îdedication equals success,’” says student Rebecca Galpern.

And Violet Lee says the duo is successful in teaching and encouraging her son Eric.

“Every week Polar will do an email blast to all the parents recapping every individual child on their strengths, what they've accomplished, not only in drumline, but for example, my son one day, because he had a great report card, he gave him kudos for having a great report card on the email,” says Lee. “So having something like that is really important to them, making sure the kid is well rounded in all ways.”

The group has also performed at events like Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the U.S. Open, the TriBeCa Film Festival and many more.

“It's fun for me because it's kind of like I get to show off what I've learned,” says student Wila Beckman.

Polar and Curtis say they hope to expand Battery Drumline to other areas in the city.

“The moment that we get into our third stage of this program, we'll be looking forward to opening up a branch in every different borough,” says Curtis.

So, for teaching these kids not only the beats of a drum but also life lessons, Polar Levine and Curtis Watts are our New Yorkers of the Week.

For more information or to donate to Battery Drumline, visit www.batterydrumline.org.

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