The Chicken Assassin was a crowd favorite, playing a keyboard, a small childs piano, a variety of noise makers -- including a pop-cork kid's rifle -- and a flute. [Order this photo]

Cyro Baptista and Beat the Donkey got the fourth and final season of the SPOT/Hancher Family Arts Adventure program started with a bang over the weekend with several activities geared for children and families on Sunday, followed by grade school specific programming at the old Middle School Auditorium during the day on Monday. Cyro and the band, using a wide variety of traditional and more "creative" instruments, played for Spencer's appreciative elementary audience. Tonight, the group will wrap up their three-day residency with a special concert at the old Middle School Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at SCT for $3 per person or $10 for a family.

Baptista has been performing for 10 years and originally his idea was considered too far out there. Today, the man who has performed with such well known artists Yo Yo Ma, Sting, Paul Simon and Herbie Hancock, has a group consisting of street performers and accomplished musicians.

Over the year the band has changed, but the mentality of its leader never has.

The Beat the Donkey Band didn't need a special request to jump in while Cyro was playing. Anything and everything that could make noise was pulled into the performance, demonstrating that it doesn't have to be a certified musical instrument to get toes tapping, fingers snapping and feet moving. Tonight is the final night of the group's stay in Spencer, and they'll wrap it up with a 7 p.m. concert for the whole family at the old Spencer Middle School Auditorium. [Order this photo]

"Not long ago, the human race used to sit around the fire and everybody was a musician. The main thing I want my message to say, music is a great thing we do together," Baptista said.

SPOT is part of the Hancher Family Arts Adventure project, facilitated by the Hancher Auditorium on the campus of Iowa State University.

SPOT residencies are funded with an $800,000 grant to Hancher from the Wallace Foundation through its "Leadership and Excellence in Arts Participation" (LEAP) program.