Mar Stevens connected with her inner rhythms as a child drumming on her grade school desk. The Drum has transformed her life and continues to inspire and heal her.  Mar has studied with Master Drummer Afia Walking Tree, and attended the Fore-Fote Drum Camp in Guinea, West Africa.  Mar has performed with Sistahs of the Drum, Sistah Boom, Oakland Rhythm and teaches at the Born to Drum camp in Northern California.

Learn traditional West African Rhythms with Oakland, CA – based percussionist and teacher Mar Stevens. Experience the Power of the Drum in this welcoming and uplifting class. Brand new drummers welcome!

• All drums provided, or bring your own (Djembe, DjunDjun).
• Learn proper drum technique, rhythms from West Africa, and how to feel comfortable and confident playing hand percussion!

Tap into the energy and joy of BRAZILIAN RHYTHMS with Salvador, Bahia-born percussionist MARCOS RODRIGUES! This is an ALL LEVELS class and everyone is WELCOME to jump into the music of BRAZIL!

• All drums provided (surdo, caixa, agogo, repinique, caxixi) or bring your own (djeme, congas, etc.)

Marcos Rodrigues was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, he has performed with acclaimed Brazilian artists Bahia Magia, Edu Ribeiro & Banda do Pelo.  He has worked with Reggae artists Mad Professor, Los Cocos and the percussion ensemble Oakland Rhythm in Northern California.  Marcos served as percussion teacher at the prestigious Jorge Casa Grande drum school in central Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bobby was a founding member of the acclaimed RHYTHM CAFE ensemble and currently performs with Oakland-based Brazil:BLESS, Radio AFRO-Funk, Oakland RHYTHM and Imagine:NATION. Bobby also performs original material as the solo artist Bobby Beats.

Pulling from Bobby’s 20+ year career as a percussionist with a mosaic of artists (Bonnie Riatt, John Santos, Massamba Diop, Margareth Menezes, Mamadou Sidibe etc.), this 10-week ensemble drum class for intermediate to advance students will journey into the Spirit of Rhythm using Brazilian beats, Oakland Funk, and traditional and modern rhythms from Cuba and West Africa.  This captivating mix of grooves, breaks and drum songs will incorporate rebolo, conga, surdo, djembe, djun-djun, agogo, caxixi, chekere, pandeiro and more. This unique course will also include vocal concepts and soloing ideas/motifs.

• All drums provided (or bring your own).  Intermediate and advanced levels welcome.

This class covers some of the most exciting and popular rhythms used in Latin and Caribbean music today. Students will learn to play a variety of rhythmic patterns for a wide range of instruments such as congas, panderos, barriles, güiro, maracas, chékere, drum sticks and bells. Students will learn proper technique at each of these instruments and how to use these rhythms to accompany actual musical pieces. While primarily a percussion class, students will also be introduced to traditional songs representative of various Latin and Caribbean musical traditions.

• All drums provided (congas, bongos, chekere, cowbell, maracas, etc.) or bring your own.