Short Bio
I'm a percussionist who plays marimba, vibraphone, djembé, dununs, bodhran, and congas. I have 37 years professional playing and teaching experience. I've traveled to West Africa six times to study with master drummers Famoudou Konaté, Mamady Keita, among others teachers. I've also studied music at the University of Victoria and Vancouver Community College. I teach and perform in various musical settings and situations. ( How's that for vague? ) I've run my own hand drumming school for 30 years.
Teaching Style
By learning traditional rhythms one inherits generations of musical innovation and accumulated knowledge. We become part of an evolving musical tradition.
Almost any rhythm is teachable, no matter how challenging, as long as it's slowed down and taught in a step-by-step manner.
Where I learned about
traditional hand drumming:
1994 Aug / Afrocubanismo / Banff Alberta Canada / 9 day workshop in Afro Cuban Music
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1998 Aug / Afrocubanismo / Banff Alberta Canada / 9 day workshop in Afro Cuban Music
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1998 Dec / Famoudou Konaté Workshop / Conakry, Guinea, West Africa / 3 weeks
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2000 Dec / Famoudou Konaté Workshop / Conakry, Guinea, West Africa / 3 weeks
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2001 Jan / Mamady Keita Workshop / Conakry, Guinea, West Africa / 3 weeks
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2004 Jan / Mamady Keita Workshop / Los Angeles / 2 weeks
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2005 Jan / Mamady Keita Workshop / Conakry, Guinea, West Africa / 2 weeks
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2005 Jan / Famoudou Konaté Workshops / Conakry, Guinea, West Africa / 3 weeks
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2005 Dec / Lessons with Nansady & Solo Keita / Conakry, Guinea / 2 weeks
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2006 December / Mamady Keita Workshop / Conakry, Guinea, West Africa / 3 weeks
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2006 Jan / Famoudou Konaté Workshops / Conakry, Guinea, West Africa / 3 weeks
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2006 July / Famoudou Konaté Workshop / Vancouver, Canada / 3 day workshop
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2007 January / Famoudou Konaté Workshop / Conakry, Guinea, West Africa / 3 weeks
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2007 July / Famoudou Konaté Workshop / Vancouver, Canada / 4 day workshop
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2009 November Mamady Keita Workshop / Victoria, Canada / 3 days
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2010 June / Mamady Keita Workshop / Chicago, USA / 4 days
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2011 June / Mamady & Famoudou Workshop / San Diego, USA / 2 weeks
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2011 July / Explorations in Afro Cuban Drum and Dance / Arcada, Califorina / 8 days
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2011 Sept / Mamady Keita Workshop/ Vancouver / September / 4 day workshop
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2011 November / Mamady Keita Workshop / San Diego, USA / 3 days
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2012 June / Mamady & Famoudou Workshop / San Diego, USA / 2 weeks
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2012 July / Explorations in Afro Cuban Drum and Dance / Arcada, Califorina / 8 days
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2012 November / Mamady Keita Workshop / Vancouver, Canada / 4 days
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2013 May / Mamady Keita Workshop / Portland, Oregon, USA / 3 days
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2013 July / Explorations in Afro Cuban Drum and Dance / Arcada, Califorina / 8 days
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2014 July / Camp Fareta / Fresno California, USA / 7 days
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2014 November / Sayon Camara Workshop / Vancouver, Canada / 3 days
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2015 March / Mamady Keita Workshop /Oaxaca, Mexico / 6 days
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2015 October / Sayon Camara Workshop / Vancouver, Canada / 3 days
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2016 November / Sayon Camara Workshop / Vancouver, Canada / 3 days
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2017 December / Sayon Camara Workshop / Guinea, West Africa / 4 weeks
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2018 September / Bolokada Condé Workshop / Vancouver, Canada / 4 days
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2019 August / Namory Keita Workshop / Vancouver, Canada / 3 days
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2023 November / Namory & Sayon Workshop / Vancouver, Canada / 4 days