New CSULB Percussion Program Website

At the beginning of the month, I created a new website for the CSULB Percussion Program. I wanted a place where I could post photos, videos and stories about the percussion program. I also wanted a place to reach out to our community and let people know about all of the great concerts and events that are going on in the percussion program. It has been a great semester! We wrapped up the year with our annual Caribbean Holiday Celebration concert with guest artist Liam Teague. I will post a recap to the entire semester in the coming weeks. Until then, please check out the...

Tumblr Update

I am not sure if I am the only one still using a RSS reader to consume content on the web. For me, it is the easiest way to read new content. If you have no idea what I am talking about, head over to Wikipedia for a quick recap. Once you find some RSS feeds that you are interested in, a RSS Reader is a handy tool that collects new articles and collates them into a central place so you can read them. On my iPhone/iPad, I prefer to use an app called Newsify. I like the interface and sharing possibilities that this app offers. One of the problems that I have discovered is...

Biden enjoyed the sweet sound of the Ste...

On May 28, US Vice President Joe Biden “applauded the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force which serenaded him and his family with the sweet sound of the steel pan upon his arrival in Trinidad last night.” (StabroekNews.com). Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar presented a steel pan to the Vice President that was made at Gill’s Pan Shop in Curepe. In 2009, President Obama was presented with a tenor pan made by Panland, based in Laventille. He also purchased two mini pans for his daughters. For the complete story, please visit Trinidad and Tobago Newday....

Composers Circle

On Sunday, my new triangle solo Pitch Drop was featured on Composers Circle. If you are unfamiliar with this site, it features one composer a day and has been around for about a year. You can easily lose a lot of time listening to all of the music that is featured on the site. Thanks to Eric Guinivan for creating such an incredible resource for composers and performers. COMPOSERS CIRCLE one day. one composer. one discovery.

2013 Mira Costa HS Spring Percussion Fes...

I will be presenting a percussion masterclass on Saturday, May 17, 2013 at 4:30pm as part of the Mira Costa HS Spring Percussion Festival. The masterclass, titled “Counting, Listening, and Groove Building,” will teach the percussion students ensemble listening techniques. The masterclass is sponsored by Zildjian, Yamaha, Evans and Innovative Percussion. Check out the flyer below for more information:  

Steel Drum Composition: Samba de los Cha...

Last February, I wrote a new steel drum piece for my trip to the University of Texas at Austin called Samba de los Changitos. It was published and released by Box Fish Music at PASIC 2012. It is now featured on the front page of the Box Fish Music website. For a live recording of the CSULB Steel Drum Orchestra, click here.

Weekly Review – January 20, 2013

Here are my links that I have been reading this week. Today is Martin Luther King Day and the Presidential Inauguration. It also marks the beginning of the semester at CSULB. It is going to be a busy semester and I am looking forward it! Recently, I have been working on the repertoire for a set of concerts with Southwest Chamber Music and I am looking forward to the concerts. Finally, if you are in Southern California, please come and check out the PAS SoCal Day of Percussion at CSULB. Here’s something to try! Get Fit in 5 Minutes a Day with the Ultimate Body Weight...

2012. A Reflection and Goals for 2013.

To say 2012 was a busy year would be an understatement. I celebrated a milestone birthday, saw the birth of Zachary Andrew (our second son) and bid farewell to my friend and mentor Michael Carney. As I wrote on my FaceBook wall, “It is very hard to say goodbye to someone who has meant so much to me and my family over the past 22 years. I was grateful I had the opportunity to study, teach, work and be around someone like Dr. Michael Carney for so many years. Being in the room today and spending time with former students and singing for Michael will be something I...

Weekly Review – January 13, 2013

One of my resolutions is to post more often. Each week, I am going to put together a list of articles, blogs and other related resources that I have been reading and enjoying over the past week. This is not a comprehensive list by any means, but if there is something I missed, please leave a comment and let me know. Cheers and enjoy. There are a lot of Drummers on this list!! 15 Jazz Albums To Look Out For In 2013 http://t.co/SHHLrzns What is better than a video with one Trombone Slidecam? A Trombone Slidecam Duo! @maddow https://t.co/P1ZTME93 iPotty Aims To Entertain...

Navigating Social Networks Article

I was interviewed for an article called “Navigating Social Networks” for Halftime Magazine. The article is now available online. Thanks to Jeremy Chen for asking me to be a part of the article. Below are some excerpts from the article. Click here to read the entire article. Navigating Social Networks By Jeremy Chen With social networking now being a significant game changer in the entire world of communication, marching arts organizations must ensure that this medium is being understood properly and being used in a manner that benefits—rather than hurts—them....