With PASIC being right around the corner, I wanted to share some videos from past conventions to show you some examples of the clinics that are presented. Today’s video features Michael Spiro, one the foremost educators of Afro-Cuban/Afo-Brazilian music in the United States. He currently is on the faculty at Indiana University, has recorded and performed on over 100 albums and has produced educational materials for Warner Bros. Publications. (more…)
PASIC is just around the corner! If you have never been to PASIC, it is definitely something to consider in the future. PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) is the largest percussion event in the world featuring over 120 concerts, clinics, master classes, labs, workshops, panels and presentations. The finest artists from all over the world are invited to present and perform at PASIC. The program showcases all areas of percussion, including: drumset, marching, keyboard, symphonic, world, recreational, education, music technology, new music, and health & wellness. This year, PASIC will occur in Indianapolis on November 19-22, 2014. Have a great week and hope see some of you at PASIC. (more…)
Rob Knopper, percussionist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, is in the middle of his 12 Days of Delécluse. If you are not familiar with Jacques Delecluse’s 12 Etudes for Snare Drum, head out to our friends at Steve Weiss Music and buy yourself a copy of this seminal book for snare drum. There are a couple of books every percussionists should own and this should be one of them. (Other standard snare books include Stick Control, Anthony Cirone’s Portraits in Rhythm and Mitchell Peter’s Intermediate Snare Drum Studies to name a few.) (more…)
In this episode of Percussion Education, I want to introduce the concept of Wrist Lifts. I don’t want this to be confused with the Moeller Technique. If you are not familiar with the Moeller Technique or Method, there are a lot of videos and method books that describe this approach to drumming. (more…)
Today’s video features Brazilian drummer Christiano Gavalão runs through a Sambass Groove as part of his Creative Brazilian Drumming Series. There are so many good sources of information on the internet and I appreciate companies like Zildjian for posting these videos.
Thanks for your continued support of my new website. I am really enjoying my conversations and interactions with everyone. Please do me a favor and subscribe to my YouTube channel and sign up for the newsletter (in the right column of the blog). I appreciate it and thank you in advance. Here are the weekly reads for this week. Please make sure to leave links to what you have been reading below in the comments. (more…)
Andy Akiho has written a lot of music for steel pan and percussion. Today’s video features a new orchestration of a piece he wrote in 2007. Check out his website for more music and sheet music.
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Have you ever started working on a new etude or piece and found that there were a couple of measures that we more difficult and needed some extra attention? I know I have (especially in Delecluse #9)! (more…)
Over the past several years I’ve noticed a fair amount of discussion about the relevancy of a college education, especially one in the arts. And this post by Ivan Trevino echoes many of the concerns recent graduates are having about their college music degree experience.
I was asked recently to serve on a committee of faculty from the College of Fine Arts at UT to look more closely at the offerings, or lack thereof, of our current curriculum and to suggest changes and/or additions to better help students cope with life after school.
I’ve been writing and thinking about these things for quite some time and I’m excited about the opportunity to help our college adapt to the changing needs of our graduates. So, the purpose of tonight’s post, is to try and get a better pulse on what we, the protectors and directors of higher education, need to be aware of as we develop our offerings to become more relevant to today’s college music student.
To that end: whether you are a current college student, or college professor, what are your thoughts on how higher education needs to adapt to better prepare our graduates for success. Please leave your thoughts below and be sure to check out Ivan’s post (link above). Thanks for your ideas in advance!
Sorry for the delay in posting this. I have been busy with a sick child and some computer problems. Anyway, onward to the reading list. Hope everyone has a great week and please send me your recommendations.
the road to delécluse… aka the ‘caisse-claire crawl’
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Skype Lessons with Dr. Gerhart