James Armstrong Brasil Residency 2010

gilbertPhiladelphia based freelance percussionist and Instructor of Percussion at Elizabethtown College JAMES ARMSTRONG recently completed a four week performing and teaching residency in Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. Partners of the America¹s sponsored this program with additional assistance from Sabian, Vic Firth, Yamaha and Latin Percussion Companies.

James began his visit with a solo appearance at the III Festival de Percussão (hosted by Jorge Sacramento) followed by a two-week intensive teaching residency at Universidade Federal Da Bahia. Masterclasses were given in several areas of percussion, including AfroCaribbean folkloric drumming, jazz vibraphone and improvisation, drumset, and snare drum and mallet technique. The UFBA residency concluded with a concert performance at Brazil Connect 2010 (Partners Brazil National Convention) that included student performances of several of Armstrong¹s percussion ensemble compositions, Afro Haitian and Afro Cuban folkloric drumming, some Brasilian popular music, and several jazz pieces.  Armstrong then taught several days at the non-profit community organizations ACRAS in Sussuarana, Bahia (Assoção Cultural e Recreativa dos Amigos de Sussuarana) and Cidade Do Saber in Camaçari, Bahia. These programs also included masterclass and group sessions in Afro Haitian and Afro Cuban folkloric drumming, jazz, and West African drum and dance, each concluding with a short presentation by student ensembles.

Apart from teaching, James also performed with several jazz and pop ensembles and as solo artist (Afro Haitian and Afro Cuban folkloric
drumming) at Modern Art Museum of Salvador, Jaçeria, Porto De Barra and Casa de Taipa Camaçari to name a select few. James also had the opportunity to visit the Candomblé terrieros Ile Asé Jagun, Terreiro Osumaré, and Unzo Tateto Lemba where he observed ceremonies and worked with drummers and members associated with each terreiro. While in Salvador, considerable progress was also made regarding the Music With Borders program, a three-year music and cultural exchange between musicians from Pennsylvania and Bahia slated to begin in 2011.

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Be a part of the BIG BEAT

drummersTwenty of the top percussion companies in the industry have donated merchandise totalling more than $235,000 in retail value for the Five-Star Big Beat that will occur in 15 cities in North America on Sunday, November 7, 2010. Each participating store will be giving away more than $15,000 worth of drum gear to participants in this exciting charity event that will benefit the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and in some cities, the addition of a local charity as well. Plus, one lucky winner in one of the 15 cities will get a special Dream Theater “Black Clouds & Silver Linings” replica tour bass drum head autographed especially for this occasion by drummer Mike Portnoy and the entire band!

The Big Beat will bring together the largest gathering of drummers ever assembled across North America to celebrate the joy of drumming and to raise money for worthwhile causes. Not only will each location try to break the individual city record for the most drummers playing the same beat at one time, but the participants will also try to shatter the record the Big Beat set last year for drummers playing the same beat in multiple cities at the same time! This marks the third year that the Five-Star Drum Shops group has organized this event, with the hope of expanding each year, until drummers across the globe are locked in on one worldwide groove.

Drummers of all skill levels and experience are encouraged to get involved and contact one of these participating Five-Star members for details:

Bellevue, WA: Donn Bennett Drum Studiobennettdrums.com

Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Drum Outletbuffalodrumoutlet.com

Champaign, IL: Skins-n-Tins Drum Shopskinsntins.com

Columbus, OH: Columbus Percussioncolumbuspercussion.com

Fort Collins, CO: Colorado Drum & Percussioncoloradodrum.com

Hollywood, FL: Resurrection Drumsrezdrums.com

Houston, TX: The Percussion Centerpercussiononline.com

Plainview, NY: Original Long Island Drum Centerlidrum.com

Portland, OR: Rhythm Tradersrhythmtraders.com

San Jose, CA: Lemmon Percussion- drumsusa.com

St. Louis, MO: Drum Headquartersdrumheadquarters.com

St. Paul, MN: Ellis Drum Shopellisdrumshop.com

Toronto, ON:  Just Drumsjustdrums.com

Tulsa, OK: Drum Worlddrumdaytulsa.com

Willowick, OH: Stebal Drumsstebaldrums.com

The Five-Star Drum Shops group is a non-profit organization of independently-owned specialty percussion stores in North America that are dedicated to advancing the art and science of drumming. For more information, visit www.fivestardrumshops.com or check out Five-Star on Facebook.

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Bill Cahn Presents “Creative Music Making”

BILLsolo2Bill Cahn, a founding member of the NEXUS percussion quintet (1971 to present) and Associate Professor of Percussion at The Eastman School of Music facilitated a “Creative Music Making” workshop for twelve participating students as part of the week long summer percussion institute directed by Professor Michael Burritt. The 2-1/2-hour workshop focused on freeform improvisation, and was based on Bill’s book, “Creative Music Making,” published by Routledge Books in 2005.

Each of the participants had the opportunity to perform and record improvised pieces for listening and discussion. An evening public performance in the Eastman School’s Kilbourn recital hall provided the forum for participants to put their workshop experience into practice. Bill’s participation in the summer institute was made possible with the generous support of Sabian Cymbals, and Vic Firth Inc.

In addition to Michael Burritt’s sessions, also presenting workshop sessions at the Summer Percussion Institute were Anders Astrand, John Beck, Rohan Krishnamurthy, Gordon Stout, Rich Thompson, and Lee Vinson.

Bill Cahn has received the Rochester Philharmonic League’s FANFARE AWARD (1988) for a “significant contribution to music education in Rochester,”    Mu Phi Epsilon’s MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD (1993), and with NEXUS, the TORONTO ARTS AWARD in music (1989), the BANFF CENTRE FOR THE ARTS NATIONAL AWARD (1997), and induction into the Percussive Arts Society’s HALL OF FAME (1999). In 2006 Bill received a GRAMMY Award for his performance with Paul Winter on the DVD titled, “2004 Solstice Concert”

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An Enduring Team Needs A Perfect Pair!

Percussionist Emedin Rivera and drummer Brian Doherty have been working together for a long time.  “Most marriages don’t even last as long as we’ve been playing music together,” jokes Doherty.  He likens their teamwork to a comfortable pair of slippers.  “It’s effortless.  We know how to support each other, and at times, stay out of each other’s way.  At a one-off gig this past June, we realized that we’ve been a rhythm section for over twenty-five years!”  It all began in an original jazz-fusion group called Rewind, comprised mostly of Manhattan School of Music students, in 1985.  Afterwards, Doherty and Rivera took their talents to Lonnie Liston Smith, Tom Brown, Bobby Humphrey, Second Nature and Bob Baldwin, as well as many others.  In addition, they were also the rhythm team for legendary violinist, Noel Pointer. Read More »

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Craig Smilowski featured in SDM

Vic Firth Artist Craig Smilowski has been featured in the July issue of Sick Drummer Magazine! Check out this preview of SDM’s exclusive interview with Craig — and then head over to sickdrummermagazine.com to read the entire interview, as well as the rest of this special two-year anniversary issue for FREE!

Click the image bleow to zoom in and read the sample!

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VF Gourmet Succeeds with Kitchen Gadgets

from the Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME

for+ms+color+3+cols+soupnu+copy.JPGNEWPORT — In a factory on the shore of Sebasticook Lake, a worker loads wooden pepper mill tops onto a huge machine. They’ve been lathed and sanded, and soon will march like little soldiers past paint jets for a finish of cinnamon red, turquoise, dark orange, cobalt blue or some other equally luscious color.

“Most of the machines here are one of a kind, especially in the drumstick area,” says Vic Firth, owner of the factory. “We designed every one of them.” Did he say “drumstick area?”

Yes, this is the same Vic Firth whose drumsticks are used by symphony percussionists and rockers everywhere, including Ozzy Osbourne’s drummer Mike Bordin, Joey Barnes of Daughtry, Anton Fig of “The Late Show with David Letterman” and the drummers for Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Pink, Lou Reed, Elton John and Jimmy Buffett.

Firth’s lakeside Maine factory is best known for manufacturing up to 85,000 drumsticks a day. But the company also has a “Vic Firth Gourmet” division. Its high-end pepper mills and salt mills are as coveted by home cooks as the drumsticks are by musicians.

Firth’s lakeside Maine factory is best known for manufacturing up to 85,000 drumsticks a day. But the company also has a “Vic Firth Gourmet” division. Its high-end pepper mills and salt mills are as coveted by home cooks as the drumsticks are by musicians.

Vic Firth Gourmet is also known for its rolling pins made with real ball bearings for a smoother glide. Just six weeks ago, the company rolled out a new muddler for making mojitos, mint juleps and other cocktails that contain crushed herbs, fruits and spices.

“It’s got kind of a unique design,” said Mike Gault, vice president of manufacturing at Vic Firth Gourmet. “It’s larger than other muddlers, so it’s easier to handle, and each end of the muddler is sized for a specific tumbler size.” Read More »

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Marassa Duo Tour Recap

MARASSA DUO (James Armstrong and Nicholas Papador, percussion) recently completed a brief outing in Ontario, Canada. On Sunday, May 9 the duo appeared in concert for a private event at Ceasars Casino in Windsor, Ontario. The duo then filmed some promotional video footage at The University of Windsor Film Department to be used for their upcoming CD release (to be recorded at Fire Escape Studios in Toronto, Ontario produced by Ray Dillard).

Thank you to University of Windsor faculty member Richard Lewis; Tony Lau, Director; Kevin Peifer, CTL Technician; and the entire student film crew from the University of Windsor for their hard work and dedication.  On Tuesday, May 11 MARASSA DUO presented educational master classes/ performances at Assumption College Catholic in Windsor (Brian Zanier, music director) and St. Thomas of Villanova in LaSalle, Ontario (Al Linnell and Nino Palazzolo, directors). Special thanks to Vic Firth, Sabian, Yamaha US and Yamaha Canada companies for their continued support.

Read More »

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Daniel Williams Signing Tour

Daniel Williams of The Devil Wears Prada is going out on a meet-and-greet tour!  Come meet Daniel at a music store near you!

TDWP-signad

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Efrain Martinez Drum Clinic

Efrain Martinez

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VF Brings Home MIPA Award for our Signature Series

10 MIPA awardBoston, MA May 2010 – Vic Firth Inc., the world’s largest and leading manufacturer of drumsticks and mallets, is proud to announce receiving the Musikmesse International Press Award (MIPA) for the drumstick category for the new Signature Series stick models released for 2010.

The 11th annual MIPA ceremony was held March 25th in Frankfurt, Germany during the Musikmesse trade show. More than 300 international representatives of manufacturers and distributors attended the awards ceremony. The musical instrument and pro audio community gathered to recognize outstanding contributions throughout the industry. The new product introductions for 2010 in more than 40 categories were voted on by more than 100 trade journals and magazines from around the world. Vic Firth won the DRUMSTICKS category for their new signature series of stick models. “I am deeply honored to be recognized for such a distinguished award. Thank you all very much” stated Vic Firth when he was called to receive the award.

Vic Firth’s 2010 new signature sticks included stick models designed with Cindy Blackman, Christoph Schneider, Marky Ramone, Aaron Spears, Tommy Igoe and Amir “Questlove” Thompson.

For more information, please contact Vic Firth Inc. at www.vicfirth.com; phone: 617-364-6869
fax: 617-364-2571

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