Despite a lock down last Friday interrupting the end of his performance, Winman Junior High got to enjoy the music of John Arrucci, a composer and master percussionist from Putnam, N.Y.

Arrucci graduated from Eastman School of Music in the 1970s. He taught at Princeton for 23 years and now works at City University of New York (CUNY).

Throughout his musical education, Arrucci became very interested in world music, living for more than a year in Brazil and another year in India.

He spent Friday at Winman, putting on two performances for all the students and doing workshops with some of the music classes.

For the past four years Winman’s music department has been running a cookie dough fundraiser, and every year they use a portion of those funds to bring in a guest for the students.

Kristine Gervais, the chorus teacher at Winman, said they chose to bring Arrucci to the school because all of the music classes use percussion in one way or another.

“He also makes a lot of his instruments, or travels to get them from their country of origin. He has the real deal, not just something from Guitar Center down the street,” Gervais said. “He is authentic; not only does he have the instruments and musical knowledge, but he has the stories of his travels to go along with it. You can’ t get that everywhere.”

Altogether, it cost $1,400 to bring Arrucci to the junior high.

During his workshops he helped students learn about the “art of improv,” having them “spontaneously” compose music together.

During his performances he not only plays songs, but also explains the history of each instrument.

Arrucci first became interested in drumming and percussion in junior high when he joined the jazz band.

“Who knew that would grow into a lifetime of drumming, travel and discovery,” he said. “Music made me passionate about learning. Music helps us learn how to learn.”

He said that studies have proven, “time and time again,” that an appreciation and understanding of music enhances one’s ability to “excel” in all other areas of life, science, social studies, language and math.

Arrucci went from being a C student to a high achieving student, consistently on the honor roll, in only one semester after getting involved in music programs.

Gervais said that the students were highly engaged in Arrucci’s program and were quick to ask questions.

She said she appreciated that Arrucci tied music to every other academic discipline – acoustics as science; geometry, where the instruments and styles of music come from; and math in composing.

“Music is essential in schools. It’s not a peripheral area of study,” Arrucci said. “All matter vibrates, so music is just part of who we are. It’s not something that should be cut out of schools.”