Monday, November 17, 2008

CSU Fresno Clinic/Master Class

Thanks to Dr. Matt Darling for inviting me to give a clinic/master class at CSU Fresno last week. His students performed John Cage's "Third Construction" for me and rocked it! It was a great performance - congratulations to Mike, Mike, Sarah, and Gary - and to Matt - great performance guys!

I enjoyed sharing my music with you all and thanks to Matt and everyone for welcoming me.

Thanks to CSU, Fresno, Remo, Vic Firth, and Yamaha for sponsoring the clinic!

And thanks to Matias for layin' down some tangos and bulerias with me!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

We Got the Beat Clinic

Yesterday I gave a clinic for the "We Got the Beat" percussion band in Fresno, CA. Run by wonderful percussionist and teacher, Brenda Myers, this club serves students from elementary, middle, and highs schools throughout the San Joaquin Valley. The first group I worked with were elementary school percussionists and there were 25 of them all jammin' on an Afro-Cuban arrangement of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear". These 3 pics show most of the students.




























Here is a pic of the "Beyond the Beat" group, the older students, with Brenda Myers. Congratulations to Brenda for her work with these groups - it's so great to see such a large group of young students exposed to good music and percussion playing! Thanks to Brenda and all of the students for a wonderful time - keep up the beat! Thanks to We Got the Beat, Beyond the Beat, Remo Drumheads, Vic Firth Sticks & Mallets, and Yamaha Percussion for sponsoring the clinic!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

SOU Percussion Ensemble 2008-09

We took photos for the ensemble last week - here are a couple of them. Ian gets the points for the highest jump in this one! I think Evin wins for best face...




Here's one we'll use for publicity early on. Unfortunately, Val was sick for the shoot so she's not with us in the pictures - but definitely in spirit!

Our first concert will be Tuesday, December 2, at 8 PM at SOU. It will feature flutist Tessa Brinckman as soloist with us on Andres Jolivet's "Suite en Concert for flute and percussion." Hope you can join us!

Thanks to Rhett and Andrew for the pictures!