Craig Fuller, the Omaha Symphony’s principal tubist, performed for kindergartners at Swanson Elementary School Thursday.
Fuller, also a senior lecturer in music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, played the tuba, demonstrated a didgeridoo and picked five volunteers from the audience to help perform “Flight of the Bumblebee.”
Kindergarten teacher Kristy Damkroger said Fuller’s performances are a tradition at Swanson.
“He always comes and does this little tuba demonstration for the kindergartners,” she said. “His son went here to Swanson when he was in kindergarten . . . his son is a sophomore at Westside now, so he’s done this a while.
Kindergaren student Graham Waterstraat called the performance fun, and he especially liked the large tuba mute.
“The mute made it softer,” he said.
Classmate Aidan Baumann said he liked the didgeridoo, an instrument Fuller described as an "Australian tuba."
Fuller said he enjoys playing for the kids.
“You get to play all different kinds of music and keep them engaged, and I think sometimes when you can learn how to keep kindergartners engaged, you can help keep adults engaged when you get a chance to play for them.”
Fuller said the children enjoyed seeing his different instruments, including a hose horn.
Fuller has a good time, too: “It’s a lot of fun.”
Swanson Elementary School is located at 8601 Harney St.
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