News, Updates and Information Archive: 2008
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video drum lesson #2
Hand Drumming: "Heel/Toe Roll & Tumbao"
posted December 28, 2008-
Hello, hello! My second video lesson was just posted online. As its name implies, Hand Drumming: "Heel/Toe Roll & Tumbao" introduces the "Heel/Toe" roll for hand drummers, and demonstrates some interesting ways to apply it within a traditional "Tumbao" rhythm. Happy New Year!
PowersPercussion video drum lesson #1
Double Bass Drumming: "Drop Two"
posted December 22, 2008-
Happy Holidays, everyone! I just started a new PowersPercussion YouTube channel, which will be a venue for me to post quick video drum lessons! The clips will focus not only on drumset, but on all sorts of percussion instruments and styles. The first lesson, Double Bass Drumming: "Drop Two" is uploaded and waiting for you. While you're there, make sure to post a comment, rate the video, and click on the 'subscribe' button, to be notified about future lessons. There are more on the way, so I'll catch you soon!
Just posted . . .
Part Two of the Mel Bay Percussion Sessions Hand Drumming Crash Course!
posted December 1, 2008-
Happy December- hope your Turkey Day was fantastic! I was able to see my new nephew (two weeks old on Thanksgiving Day!) and enjoy some quality family time back in the Midwest.
This month's issue of Mel Bay's Percussion Sessions webzine is online now, and includes the second article in my Hand Drumming Crash Course series! This lesson (with video clips) combines the basic hand drum strokes introduced in the October issue, creating several great sounding rhythms. Check it out here and let me know what you think- enjoy!
Rhythms & Intuition
posted November 7, 2008-
Hollee Haas (life coach/speaker) and I have just a few more spots available for the one-day 'Rhythms & Intuition' workshop we are facilitating in Lincoln City, Oregon on the 16th of this month!
CLICK HERE for details and registration, and make sure to check Hollee out at DreamLifeNow.net!
Have a rockin' Halloween!
posted October 26, 2008-
Click here for a little Halloween Hand Drumming silliness!
That's all for now- have fun!
Just for you . . . Gahu:Part Two
posted October 13, 2008-
The second Gahu article that I wrote for World Percussion & Rhythm is now up on the Online Lessons page for you to check out, download and practice! In this article, we take a look at the rhythms of the boba master drum!
Mel Bay 'Percussion Sessions' Hand Drumming Crash Course
posted October 7, 2008-
My first lesson/article for Mel Bay's Percussion Sessions webzine (October 2008 issue) has just been posted! This introductory lesson (which includes video clips) explores some common hand drum strokes and sounds, and then combines them to create a few easy rhythms! Check it out here and enjoy!
Also, keep your eyes peeled for my new four-article drumset series, coming soon in Modern Drummer Magazine!
Puerto Rico
posted September 18, 2008-
It's been a while since I've checked in here. Things have been busy, busy, BUSY!
There has been considerable interest in this summer's trip to Puerto Rico (which was AMAZING!), so I have decided to post my journal and some photos, to give you an idea of my experiences. Check back here SOON for the online and 'pdf' versions! In the meantime, to see/hear some incredible Bomba drum/dance performances that I recorded in the towns of Loiza and Pinones, click . . .
here: Bomba in Loiza #1
here: Bomba in Loiza #2
and here: Bomba in Pinones
And follow me into a shrine of white magic (the GOOD stuff, yo) in a barrio of San Juan by clicking here!
An enormous, extra special "thank you" to Tati and Zoraida in PR, for lodging, food, transportation, and a fantastic time!
Ready or not, here I go!
posted July 23, 2008-
Thank you to everyone who attended the Silver Falls 'Rhythms & Manifesting' retreat last weekend- I hope your experience was as fantastic and moving as mine was!
This evening I am playing in the Seattle area, and then it is off to Puerto Rico! My destination is the town of Loiza, where I will check out La Fiesta de Santiago Apostol and hope to find a teacher willing to give me a few Bomba & Plena drumming lessons. I will fill you all in on the details when I get back. Hasta luego!
It's Christmas in July . . .
posted July 5, 2008-
. . . and I am continually presented with the gift of working with many truly amazing people! July is going to be a busy, busy, BUSY month! It consists of (in addition to my usual private lesson roster, working on two or three drum instructional book projects, and other regular gigs) a show with the Willamette Valley Saxophone Quartet (love playing drumset with these guys); a completely improvised duo performance with guitarist/electronic looper/Willamette University professor Mike Nord; teaching a 'Sights & Sounds of Ghana' percussion & culture workshop; a few RockStarLive "live-band karaoke" gigs around Portland and Seattle; co-facilitating a 'Rhythms & Manifesting' overnight retreat with life coach Hollee Haas at the beautiful Silver Falls Conference Center; playing two separate opening slots for country stars Craig Morgan (on the 17th) and Sawyer Brown (on the 30th); finishing a four-article series for Modern Drummer Magazine (I'll keep you posted!); AND somehow finding a few days to slip away to Puerto Rico to try to find some local drummers, get a few Bomba & Plena drum lessons and attend La Fiesta de Santiago Apostol!
You may have noticed the new email newsletter opt-in box at the top of this page. If you would like to stay informed about my future group programs, hand drum classes, live performances and/or book, article, audio & video releases, enter in your email address. I will be sure to keep you updated! And hey . . . drop me a line on the Guestbook while you're here. Hope to see you you soon!
Music, Meditation & Manifesting . . .
posted June 12, 2008-
I am very excited to announce that I have a new program coming up on July 19th & 20th! Hollee Haas (International life coach, speaker and intuitive) and I have teamed up to create a powerful personal development retreat, 'Unlock Your Inner Rhythms & Manifest Your Desires.' The retreat will be held at Silver Falls Conference Center, a half-mile from Oregon's beautiful Silver Falls State Park. Seminars and hands-on workshops will guide participants through the process of becoming aware of the rhythms that surround us: ever-present in our bodies, environment, work and relationships. Learning how to harness that power allows us to gain control of our lives and turn all of our desires into reality.
CLICK HERE for details and registration, and make sure to check Hollee out at DreamLifeNow.net!
Book, videos, articles . . .
posted May 29, 2008-
My great friend and teacher Dave Stanoch just released "Mastering the Tables of Time: Volume One," a fantastic drumset method to improve your groove, coordination, polyrhythmic and soloing skills! My work on the project included the music typesetting and editing. I highly recommend the book for players of all experience levels. Along with the hardcopy of the book, Dave is offering loads of free online audio/video 'companion' materials, including additional 'web exclusive' pages and examples of him performing exercises from the book. Check it all out here, get a copy and get practicing!
There have been several new videos added to my Audio/Video page . . . a djembe/marimba duet with Yamaha Performing Artist Nathan Daughtrey; all four movements of "Diffusion," by Gordon Goodwin (with the Willamette Valley Saxophone Quartet); and a concurrent world premiere performance (with Randy Kem) of "The Miraculous Tale" (for alto sax & derabucca), by Egyptian composer Halim El-Dabh.
Also in the works is a short series of drumset articles for Modern Drummer Magazine. I'll keep you posted!
Mid-valley music . . . play it LOUD!
posted May 24, 2008-
I contributed percussion tracks to two songs that are featured on the new local music sampler "STEREO SALEM." The collection was compiled and released by The Salem Soundwave (a joint venture between The Culture Shock Community Project and Radio Free Salem). I perform drumset on the song "She Brushed Up," by LeNUNES, and tabla on the Martyrs of Sound track "Ong Namo." The 2-CD set costs only $9 (!) and is available at Ranch Records, The Ike Box and The Willamette University Bookstore. Check out The Salem Soundwave website for more information and/or to order online. Because you ARE going to pick up a copy and support local music . . . right?!?
from wine country to cheese country!
posted May 9, 2008-
I'm headed over the mountain and through the woods . . . back to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where I will be doing two full-day school residencies next week. I am excited to catch up with some great friends and am meeting a bunch of my old students for a group drummer hang! Then it's back to Oregon for a busy rest of the month, including recording drum tracks for two album projects and facilitating a 'Rhythms at Work' teambuilding presentation (with 100+ participants drumming away!) as the closing session at the Oregon Alliance of Senior & Health Services annual conference.
Student Recital 2008
posted April 19, 2008-
Thank you and congratulations to all of my students that participated in this year's student recital on Saturday, April 5th at Weathers Music in Salem, Oregon. THIRTY students performed- including solos on drumset, parade drum, djembe and multi-percussion! The afternoon also featured an ensemble performance by Rick Maurmann, Melody Wilson and Jan Irving- members of my adult hand drum class. Support for the event was provided by Vic Firth, Latin Percussion, Paiste, Modern Drummer, the Percussive Arts Society, Drum Workshop, Evans, DRUM and Zildjian. Thank you those companies, as well all of the parents, family and friends that continue to support these fantastic drummers!
Hand Drumming classes at Riverfront Wellness' new location!
posted March 31, 2008-
Riverfront Wellness has moved to a new location (2399 12th St. SE- Salem), and we have again teamed up to offer a Beginning 'Basics of Hand Drumming' Class! Expanded to a SIX-week program, the class is scheduled to run Wednesdays, May 7th through June 11th (6:15-7:15pm). The cost is $50 for the entire six-week session, and you can register by calling Riverfront (503-365-8399) or myself (920-410-0465).
Bring a drum and get ready to jam! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions- I look forward to seeing you! And, of course, the 'Continuing' class still meets 7:30-8:30pm on Wednesday evenings, for those ready to jump into some more advanced drumming!
Songs and solos
posted March 2, 2008-
#1: Check out Michael Vallee's new album, "Stay On Track." I play on three tracks!
#2: Keep Saturday, April 5th open on your calendar, and plan on coming to watch & hear an afternoon of drumming at my 2008 Student Recital! Beginning at 3pm (in the Bach Room at Weathers Music- Salem), we will have 25-30 percussionists performing short solos on drumset, snare drum, multi-percussion and djembe. Swing by, show your support, and be prepared to be impressed- they're sounding great!
Upcoming CD and book releases
posted February 27, 2008-
Drumset and percussion tracks were recently completed on LeNUNES' forthcoming album, "Sunshine and Sadness." The group consists of vocals, two electric bass guitars (fretted and fretless), and some piano. I had an absolute blast immersing myself in their music (and the fantastic breakfasts were an added bonus)! Catch the CD release show at The Blue Pepper (Salem, OR) on March 22nd and nab a copy for yourself!
I also just finished the music typesetting and editing work on the first volume of a tremendous drum instructional series, written by a great friend of mine. The project has been sent to the printer- we're awaiting a copy to proof. More details soon! All I can say is: watch out drummers, this stuff will take some practice!
Aside from the usual teaching and gigs, the next month will also be bringing more recording, two Career Day presentations at South Salem High School, a possible short Texas tour (stay tuned), much jogging (Shamrock Run- Portland; yeah, baby!) and, get this . . . classical fencing classes! That's right- for two hours every week, I'll be trading my drumsticks for a sword . . . look out!