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My earliest musical memory; like most children I played pots and pans with pens and pencils - my family thought I would grow out of it - they're still waiting !
First musical experience; my mother singing jazz standards and show tunes, my father listening to big band jazz and be-bop and those were the days of rock & roll, so much of that music had a strong 'latin' beat and I had all the clavé patterns under my fingers by the time I went to primary school
First magical musical moments; experiencing James Blades visiting my primary school around 1962, getting the percussionist gig with the school choir two years later !
Freelance Percussionist since 1973
Music Workshop Leader since 1985
Community Musician and 'In The Moment Music' Facilitator since 1989
Professional Drum Circle Facilitator with 1200+ rhythm events facilitated since the year 2000
And I instigated my ongoing project The DRUMNASIUM Drum Circle ( Drum & Percussion ) Work & Play-Shop in the same year
Professional Member
Drum Circle Facilitators Guild ( Int ) : National Association of Percussion Teachers ( UK ) : Percussive Arts Society ( Int ) :
Sound Sense ( UK ) : Musicians Union ( UK ) : HealthRhythms ( Int ) :Qualifications :
Youth & Community Basic Training Certificates I & II ( 1984 : Leicester University )
City & Guilds Group Facilitation Skills and Industrial Society Training for Trainers ( 1988 )
Arthur Hull's Village Music Circles Level 1 & 2 Drum Circle Facilitators Training ( 2004 : Stanford University )
Therapeutic Drumming Certificate via the Therapeutic Drumming Foundation ( 2006 )
Dedicated to Continuing Professional Development :
I have recently qualified ( July 2010 ) as a REMO HealthRHYTHMS (HR) Trained Facilitator
HR is the evidence based protocol devised by Dr Barry Bittman, for invoking change through rhythm work in groups
my personal experience has shown me that drumming in groups works on many levels and now through Dr Bittmans studies we have the scientific proof
- come and drum - not because it's fun...but because it's good for you !
I continue to attended short courses and refreshers whenever I can;
First Aid : Active Listening : Transactional Analysis : Co-Counselling : Business Communication : Bookkeeping :
Self Taught Musician :
Apart from one very brief but informative conga drum lesson with Daniel Ben Zebulon I am self taught...although saying that, I have studied the work of many musicians and attended workshops and trainings with Nana Vasconcelos, Airto Moriera, John Stevens and John Marshall
Musician For Hire :
In my professional career I have worked with many bands and solo artists in many many different popular music genres, including; jazz (all forms), rock, pop and reggae, R&B, blues, new acoustic and fusion, gospel and contemporary orchestral music
I'm very familiar with all forms of studio based work including film soundtrack recording
My performance career has included, busking and street entertainment, club, festival, rave and even cabaret performances. I continue to actively pursue audience participatory 'in the moment' music situations as a special interest, particularly if audience participation can be incorporated into the performance
I have also led my own bands when the opportunity has arisen and I continue to seek interesting new creative adventures that need percussive sounds
"Probably the best jazz percussionist in the UK..." Colin Prescott : Sec. Lewes Jazz Club
' I love my job '. . . Steve B