Stewart began playing drums and orchestral percussion professionally when still a teenager, most notably with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the orchestras of the National Ballet of Canada and the Canadian Opera Company. He has recorded for CBC radio and television, backed headliners at Royal York’s Imperial Room, performed musicals at the Stratford Festival, Petrolia’s Victoria Playhouse and Toronto’s O’Keefe – now the Sony – Centre, and was a member of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Maracaibo in Venezuela and the orchestra of the Festival de Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy.
Stewart began studying drums, jazz vibraphone and percussion in Toronto, and continued his musical education in New York City with vibraphonist David Friedman. After attending the Institute of Advanced Musical Studies in Montreux, Switzerland, he studied percussion with Elden C. “Buster” Bailey at the Juilliard School, where he received his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Percussion.
Along with performing, Stewart has had a lifelong involvement in percussion education. He has taught drums, percussion and jazz vibraphone privately throughout his career and in 1987 received his Ontario teaching certificate. He subsequently taught junior high school and high school band programs for several years. Today, Stewart teaches percussion and directs the percussion ensemble at Crescent School in Toronto and teaches privately from his studio.
An interest in writing led Stewart to journalism studies at Toronto’s Ryerson University. His numerous feature articles on music and the arts have appeared in many of Canada’s leading periodicals, including the National Post, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Toronto Life magazine, Homemaker’s magazine, Performance magazine, and the Performance magazines for Roy Thomson Hall/Massey Hall, the Toronto Symphony and the Hummingbird Centre. A number of his articles appear on this site.
Stewart’s decades of experience as a percussionist, teacher and writer came together in the development of his new book, The Band Teacher’s Percussion Guide: Insights into Playing and Teaching Percussion (Oxford University Press).
The online version of Stewart’s The Band Teacher’s Percussion Guide: Insights into Playing and Teaching Percussion first appeared in 2007. A series of articles designed specifically to address the needs and answer the questions of band directors, the Website’s success led to the greatly expanded and much more comprehensive publication of the same name, released in March 2017.
Seymour-An Introduction, a doc about one of the most inspiring #musicteachers you will ever meet. On #TvOntario Website now. Fascinating insights on music, and a touching biography of a brilliant #educator .
#piano #MusicEd #percussion #OUPMusic
https://www.tvo.org/video/documentaries/seymour-an-introduction
#BandTeachers, it's time to review your #percussion inventory. This list from my Band Teacher's Percussion Guide (Oxford University Press) should help. Look to The Guide to answer your questions on playing and teaching percussion. Wishing you a successful year #MusicEd, #OUPMusic
3The brilliant, Berlin-based #Vibraphonist David Friedman to perform with Canadian jazz royalty at Toronto's #JazzBistro (Aug 13/22). Presents live-streamed Masterclass Aug 10/22. https://stewarthoffmanmusic.com/?p=4618
#BandTeachers, learn to play and #TeachPercussion with the author of The Band Teachers Percussion Guide (Oxford University Press). Study #SnareDrum, #mallet techniques and effective evaluation for classroom success! @OUPMusic #MusicEducation https://stewarthoffmanmusic.com/videos/#mxYouTubeR:d43001206b7da79795698d4186dfc1c8-14
Wonderfully loose, inventive playing from the great Dave Goodman in Sydney . . .
Back on the horse…after nearly three months without a computer🐴 Dig my new Sonor Phonic D505 PA Re-Issue snare! Dedicated to Dr James (Jim) Clark @sonor_drums @Bosphorus_TR @remopercussion @InnovativePerc @dwdrums @prologixpads @ProRacketCases @RocNSoc #music #drums #drummer
Seymour - An Introduction is a brilliant, riveting doc about Seymour Bernstein, one of the most inspiring teachers you will ever meet. It's a fascinating masterclass on musical interpretation, and a touching biography of one of the great educators. Teachers and students - and anyone with a soul really - should watch it while they can at TVO.ca (The wonderful educational station TVOntario. I hope it's available in your area.)![]()
"The most important thing that music teacher's can do for their pupils is to inspire and encourage an emotional response, not just for music but, more importantly, for all aspects of life." - from Seymour - An Introduction
Seymour - An Introduction | TVO Today
www.tvo.org
Meet Seymour Bernstein: a genius pianist, beloved teacher and true inspiration who shares eye-opening insights from an amazing life. Acclaimed actor/director Ethan Hawke helms this compelling film.
For all my Band Teacher friends, here is the list from my "Band Teacher's Percussion Guide" (Oxford University Press) to help guide you through a review of percussion inventory (yes, it's that time of year!) You'll find answers to all your questions about playing and teaching percussion in "The Guide" - available everywhere on your favourite online bookstores! Wishing you all a successful year!
Don't miss hearing the brilliant vibraphonist, David Friedman, perform with Canadian jazz greats Bernie Senensky (piano), Neil Swainson, (bass), and Terry Clarke (drums), in what promises to be a truly extraordinary event!!
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Don't miss this rare opportunity in Toronto for vibraphonists or any musician interested in learning from a jazz giant. David Friedman, is both a legendary vibraphonist and a brilliant teacher, who developed the jazz program at Berlin's University of the Arts. Seating is limited. Reserve your spot now. For those out of town, the event will be live-streamed. See details below.
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The great Bob Becker plays and talks about the xylophone . . .
See the 'greatest xylophone player in the world' at Sound Symposium | CBC News
www.cbc.ca
Percussionist Bob Becker was introduced at St. John's Sound Symposium as the "greatest xylophone player in the world." He was quick to say he hated the title, but his performance made it hard to argue...