Join Stewart at REMI Music Camp at beautiful Lakefield College, July 15-19, 2024

Lakefield College School

REMI Music Camp, at the stunning Lakefield College campus in the Kawartha Lakes Region of Ontario, promises to be a rich and musically rewarding experience for adult instrumentalists.

Students can perform in a variety of bands and smaller instrumental ensembles, with Stewart coaching percussionists in the Advanced and Intermediate Bands, directing the Percussion Ensemble, and leading the Bucket Band – which is open to all.

Check out the brochure here to read about many more ensembles and classes available.

Berlin-based Vibraphonist David Friedman in Toronto for Masterclass and Jazz Bistro Performance

Vibraphonist David Friedman

Berlin-based vibraphonist David Friedman

Wednesday, August 10, 7:30: David Friedman Masterclass at Annette Studios, 566 Annette Street
Advance tickets general/student: $35 e-transfer/$30 e-transfer
Door tickets general/student: $40 cash or e-transfer/$35 cash or e-transfer
e-transfer to info@StewartHoffmanMusic.com
Live stream is $35.00. You will receive a private link closer to the event date
Tickets will be available at the door contingent on availability for $40. Note: Space is limited.

Saturday, August 13, 8:00: David Friedman at Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., Toronto
Cover: $20.00. Call (416) 363-5299 to reserve a table

Internationally renowned vibraphonist David Friedman makes a rare Canadian appearance to perform at Toronto’s Jazz Bistro. For this very special event, Mr. Friedman shares the stage with Canadian jazz stars Bernie Senensky, piano, Neil Swainson, bass and Terry Clarke, drums.

David Friedman

David Friedman, known for both a dazzling 4-mallet vibraphone technique and profound creativity, is regarded as one of the most influential vibraphonists of his generation, and remains at the forefront of jazz as both a performer and educator.

Born in New York but based in Berlin for over 30 years, he has been an esteemed and sought after member of the European jazz scene for decades. Before moving to Berlin, he was at the centre of New York’s jazz and recording scene: after a 2-year stint in singer Tim Buckley’s band, he appeared on a slew of recordings on CTI and other labels throughout the 1970s and ’80s. He has performed or recorded with Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver (In Pursuit of the 27th Man,) Hubert Laws (Live at Carnegie Hall) Horacee Arnold (Tribe) Joe Henderson, Johnny Griffin, Jane Ira Bloom, Ron Carter, Daniel Humair and John Scofield among other notable artists. Downbeat magazine voted his Shades of Change, with pianist Geri Allen, as “One of the Year’s Best 20 CDs”

His acclaimed recording with Chet Baker, Peace, with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Joe Chambers, features five David Friedman compositions.

With vibraphonist Dave Samuels, he co-led the ground-breaking mallet duo, Double Image. Their decades-long influence on mallet percussion performances was recognized by the

Percussive Arts Society when, in 2015, they were inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame.

Educator

A renowned educator, David Friedman established and directed the jazz department of Berlin’s University of the Arts. His book, Vibraphone Technique: dampening and pedaling, is a seminal educational publication, (Etude No.19) and his numerous compositions are studied and performed by students of the instrument, orchestral percussionists and jazz vibraphonists alike (see Midnight Star)..

David Friedman continues to perform and teach in Europe, North America and the Far East.

Related information/video performances:

Doug Payne “Sound Insights” post on David Friedman: http://dougpayne.blogspot.com/2010/10/david-friedman-vibes.html

Links to videos of recent David Friedman performances:

To arrange an interview with David Friedman, or for further information, contact:
Stewart Hoffman
info@StewartHoffmanMusic.com
tel: 416.462.9615

OMEA Counterpoint 2018, Hamilton
November 2nd: Snare Drum Technique and Evaluation Workshop

Stewart’s percussion workshop, Control and Speed on the Snare Drum: Teaching and Evaluating a Relaxed Technique, at OMEA Counterpoint 2018 provides teachers with all the tools and confidence needed to effectively teach snare drum technique in band class.  Teachers will also discover a practical system for evaluation that guides students to greater control and speed on the instrument from their first play test on.

WHEN:

Friday, November 2 at 1:00-2:15

WHERE:

Hamilton Convention Centre,1 Summers Lane, Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y2

NYSSMA Winter Conference,
Nov. 30 & Dec. 1, 2017: Workshop and Appearance with JW Pepper

Looking forward to meeting colleagues and talking percussion at the NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester, NY.

In my workshop, Teaching a Relaxed Percussion Technique, I’ll explain :

  • an effective snare drum grip
  • playing with relaxed arms and hands
  • using the rebound off the drum for speed and control
  • using “lifts and levels” to play smooth dynamics

There will be lots of time to discuss any questions teachers might have about playing and teaching percussion!

WORKSHOP

“Teaching a Relaxed Percussion Technique”

Thursday, November 30 at 7:00 PM

Rochester Riverside Hotel, 120 E Main St, Rochester, NY

Frontier Room

APPEARANCE AT THE JW PEPPER BOOTH

Have a look at The Band Teacher’s Percussion Guide: Insights into Playing and Teaching Percussion (Oxford University Press) and bring any questions you may have about teaching percussion!

Friday, December 1 from 12:30 to 2:30 PM

Rochester Riverside Convention Center, 123 E Main St, Rochester, NY

OMEA Interlude

Join me Nov 3 at St. John’s booth in Huntsville to talk percussion & The Band Teacher’s

The Band Teacher’s Percussion Guide – Book Launch & Workshop

Saturday, April 8 at 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT
St. John’s Music Toronto – 109 Vanderhoof Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4G2H7

Join Stewart as he introduces “The Band Teacher’s Percussion Guide: Insights into Playing and Teaching Percussion” (Oxford University Press), presents a workshop for current and future band teachers, and fields all your percussion questions.

  • 1:00-1:30 Welcome and Introduction
  • 1:30-2:00 Overview of “The Percussion Guide”: its contents and unique features; how to use the exercises for practise and evaluation; the components of Companion Website
  • 2:30-3:30 Workshop. Focusing on snare techniques, the grip, stroke; applying “Lifts and Levels” to rudiments; buzzing and rolls.

For band directors teaching students at all levels of experience.

“An exceptional, comprehensive work . . . The material is well organized and clearly presented.” — MORRIS LANG, New York Philharmonic, emeritus

“An indispensable teaching tool for high school music teachers who teach beginning percussion students. The pages are packed full of useful information and long awaited insights which will help integrate young percussionists into a successful and rewarding band program.”– DAVID FRIEDMAN, University of the Arts, Berlin

“This book will both deepen percussion techniques for band directors and refresh teaching concepts for the percussionist-studio teacher.”–RUTH CAHN, Senior Instructor in Percussion, Eastman Community Music School