Afro-Caribbean Drumming & Songs

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE! CLICK HERE TO APPLY!

Scholarship deadline: Saturday, April 24th, 2021
Enrollment deadline: Saturday, May 1st, 2021
Dates: Fridays in May at 4pm
Ages: 7 – 11 years old
Language: Intermediate English & Spanish language listening skills required. The class is taught using a combination of English & Spanish and require that the children understand both languages (while one may be stronger than the other).

Afro-Caribbean Drumming & Songs with Maestro Hector Lugo

This class is part of La Peña’s Mundo Musicales Kids Class Series, whose curriculum is designed to develop musicianship, physical coordination, self-expression, bilingual literacy/pronunciation skills, multicultural awareness and a strong sense of identity. Through drumming, song, and story-telling, children will be introduced to the musical traditions of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic by Maestro Hector. The children will be practicing vocal call and response while learning songs and playing rhythms. They will learn to play hand drums, maracas, bells, claves and other Afro-Caribbean percussion instruments.

Please note: Some supplies are required for this class, and you are responsible for purchasing those supplies. If you need further clarification or help finding the supplies, please contact us.

Supplies needed:

1. A pair of drum sticks – They can be regular size or kid size. Link for example (anything similar will work): Kids Drumsticks

2. One maraca or shaker – A maraca (plastic, wood or leather) or an “egg” shaker (the larger the egg the better). Links to good options:
Plastic Maraca
Wooden Maracas
Large Egg Shaker

3. A hand drum – This is the most expensive item but also a plastic bucket would work fine. Ideally, the drum would stand up to 18” – 24″ inches so that the student can sit comfortably straight up and place the hands on the drum without having to crouch. Any hand drum will work fine (conga, djembe, barril. etc.) as long as kids can place it in between their legs and play comfortably with both hands. If it is not possible to get a drum, a plastic bucket/trash container works pretty well (although in this case the student may have to hold it in between the legs if the container is not tall enough). Links to good options:
Kids Tubano Drum
5 Gallon Homer Bucket
1 Quart Plastic Pail

Teacher Bio: Hector Lugo

Hector Lugo is a percussionist, singer, songwriter, and educator of Latin and Caribbean music, history, and culture. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he moved to the Bay Area in 1989 to pursue graduate studies in sociology at UC Berkeley. Hector is the founder and director of the Latin-Roots band La Mixta Criolla, a founding member of the Bomba ensemble Grupo Aguacero and the co-founder of the Bay Area Bomba y Plena Workshop. His compositions and arrangements have been featured in the documentary film “Dolores,” the compilation “Salsa de la Bahía,” as well as two theatrical productions. He has designed and implemented educational and cultural arts programs in collaboration with SFJAZZ, the San Francisco Symphony, Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, Stern Grove Festival, the San Francisco and Berkeley Unified School Districts, Oakland Youth Chorus, San Francisco Community Music Center, La Peña Cultural Center, Mission Cultural Center, and Youth Art Exchange, to name a few. Hector has also lectured on the sociology and history of Puerto Rican music at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, San Francisco State University, City College of San Francisco and Humboldt State University. He has an M.A. in Sociology and has conducted extensive research on the history, sociology, and culture of the Caribbean and Latin America.