May 11 at 4pm
CMC Recital Hall
Free
Get in the groove with piano faculty Tony Martinez and dive into the elements of the main currents of traditional Cuban music. This free workshop will demystify theoretical and rhythmic elements of popular Cuban styles, such as El Son, Guaracha, Cha Cha Cha, Afro Rhumba, and some elements of Afro-Cuban religious music through performance demonstrations and hands-on experience. Participants will learn to play rhythmic patterns together through the use of traditional latin percussion.
Some percussion instruments will be provided for playing along, but participants are welcomed to bring their own.
Tony Martinez belongs to that generation of Cuban musicians formed at the end of the 20th century, under the rigorous school of Cuban classical music. Although classically trained, he was soon inclined to learn the rhythms of jazz, to which he has dedicated the last decade, combining these styles with traditional Cuban rhythms.
Erick Peralta is a versatile musician with a special appreciation for all styles of music. From an early age, he was exposed to various musics thanks to his father, such as pop music, Afro-Cuban, as well as his native Peruvian music. Educated from 6 years old, he began playing professionally at age 15, branching out in the San Francisco Bay Area with various jazz, rock, and latin groups. A graduate from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Erick currently resides in San Francisco, CA, performing and teaching. Past notable performances include having worked with multi Grammy winners Alejandro Sanz, Luis Enrique, and Susana Baca; as well has worked with artists such as Pedrito Martinez, Calixto Oviedo, Juan Medrano “Cotito”, John Santos, Michael Carabello, Bayonics, and many more. Erick has taken part performing in festivals and venues, such as: the Latin Grammy Awards, The Fillmore, the Blue Note Napa, the Independent, SF JAZZ, The Regency Ball Room, Boston Convention Center, the Beantown Jazz Festival,and more. The young pianist leads his own jazz quartet, as well as his Afro-Cuban group, Conjunto Alta. erickperalta.com
About CMC Sessions 2024:
Expand your musical toolbox and get inspired with CMC guitar, piano, and cultural traditions faculty. CMC Sessions comes to life with a new series of in-person workshops, presentations, and masterclasses in a wide range of musical styles and traditions. Explore historical and stylistic performance practices, learn new techniques, and spark your creative interests through enlightening demonstrations, thought-provoking discussions, and hands-on experience.
- February 24: Improvisation Made Easy: How to Enhance Music Styling
- Embodied Piano Playing with Allison Lovejoy
- Gospel Piano Stylings with Ken Little
- March 2: Piano Performance Psychology with Grace Huenemann
- March 2: Follow My Lead: Accompaniment & Melody for Guitarists with Erik Pearson and Scott O’Day
- Accompaniment for Guitar
- Melody for Guitar
- May 11: Nuts & Bolts of Jazz Piano Improvisation with Erick Peralta
- May 11: Rhythmic and Harmonic Structure of Traditional Cuban Music with Tony Martinez and Erick Peralta
- May 18: Baroque Improvisation Workshop with Shirley Wong-Frentzel
- May 18: Histoire du Tango with Will Ludan and Monika Gruber