PROFILE

A versatile and enthusiastic percussionist with twenty years experience as a teacher and performer

Specialist skills in Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian rhythms including Salsa and Samba and their application to Popular Music and R&B

At home with both African-based oral tradition teaching and an analytical approach, and good at communicating rhythmic ideas to people from diverse backgrounds

TRAINING

Brazilian Musical Study Trip 2004:
Salvador, Recife and Rio
(including lessons in Afro-Brazilian Percussion and Dance)

West African Musical Study Trip 1999:
Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana
(including lessons in Yoruba Percussion)

Caribbean Musical Study Trip 1987:
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti and New York
(including course at ‘Instituto Popular De Arte’, Havana, in Cuban Popular Music and Rumba)

 Numerous workshops in UK with top experts,
in Percussion from 1985 including
from Cuba
Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Anga and Changuito
from Brazil
Olodum and Nana Vasconcelos
from Africa
Rábiù Àyándòkun (Yoruba Bata drum master)
and in Cuban, Brazilian and African Dance from 1999


INDEPENDENT TEACHING

After returning from Cuba in 1987 he started 'Roots of Salsa' Workshops which during their run looked at Rumba, Danzón, Cha cha cha, Son, Mambo, Guaracha, Conga de Comparsa, Mozambique and Songo from Cuba as well as Bomba and Plena from Puerto Rico, Merengue from the Dominican Republic and Cumbia from Colombia.
Since then he has been running workshops most of the time, exploring Cuban Bata, Bembé, Iyesá, Arará, Palo, Makuta, Yuka, Abakuá, Marcha Carabali, Gagá and Tumba Francesa.
For the last few years he has been running in-depth Rumba Workshops looking at Yambu, Guaguancó, Columbia and Guarapachangueo.
He has also taught workshops for Salsa Dancers in Understanding Rhythm and Basic Percussion.

He started getting aquainted with Candomblé rhythms in the 90s to accompany a Brazilian dance teacher, and his recent studies in Brazil have inspired him to present this year his first Candomblé Workshop.


COMMISSIONED TEACHING

Brazilian Workshop Skills for Goldsmiths College
London School of Samba (Assistant Musical Director 1986-1989)
Samba Projects for South Thames College and University of Westminster
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Special Subjects one-to-one Tutor (Rumba and Bembé)
Latin Percussion for kit students at Drumtech.


PERFORMING

Salsa including La Clave, King Salsa and Merengada
Brazilian including London School of Samba
and Grupo Folia
African including Jazira Dancers and Drummers
and Jide Chord and the African Melody Makers
R&B including Brand New Heavies

Class Accompaniment for
Sylvina Fabar of the Conjunto Folclorico Nacional
(Cuba, Orisha Dance)
Martica Galarraga (Cuba, Orisha Song and Dance)
Armando Pekeno (Brazil, Candomblé Dance)

  


COMMENTS FROM STUDENTS PAST AND PRESENT

Apart from being one of the most technically brilliant percussionists around and having the widest experience and knowledge of all rhythms and styles, Hamish is also an immensely patient, clear and fun teacher. Everybody has something to learn from Hamish - and this has been the case for the last twenty years at least!

- Dave Willets (Bateria Director, Paraiso School of Samba)


A clear and methodical teacher, Hamish has a deep and detailed knowledge and understanding of Afro-Cuban folkloric traditions...
I have enjoyed his classes which are both fun and informative, and would recommend his teaching to beginners and advanced players... Enjoy

-Lee Crisp (Student)
 

Hamish is a skilled teacher with diverse knowledge about African and African diasporic percussion, dance and religious traditions. He was one of my first percussion teachers many years ago and I still enrol in his workshops to develop my own musicianship. I also hire him as a guest tutor at Goldsmiths College where he has proved himself to be an effective and popular teacher.
 
-Amanda Vincent (PhD ethnomusicology, SOAS)
Course convenor for Graduate Diploma in Music Teaching to Adults and lecturer in World Music, Goldsmiths College, University of London.


I was recommended to go to a class of Hamish's by a friend of mine, Sally. She heard of him through the grapevine too. She did a conga workshop with him and could not stop talking about it. So I went to a lesson and soon found out where she was coming from.
I found his teaching to be very precise, and it involved people in a group performing way that I had not experienced before in conga sessions. I would also sense the vast amount of knowledge and experience he has in the world of percussion, and that made me feel quite safe.
I was seen practicing a conga pattern by a Cuban fellow who was a very good percussionist, and he said "from who did you learn to play like that?" I pointed to Hamish out of a crowd of other percussionists around. "Ah him" he smiled, "you should stick with that guy, he really knows the music!" What better recommendation could you ask for?
The teaching style of his lessons has stuck with me, and I remember his patience and skill in teaching and dealing with my sometimes weird and awkward questions!

- Mac (Capoeirista and Teacher)


Hamish is very hot on technique and he is absolutely right to be so. I am often complimented on my conga technique. It even happened in Cuba! They did not believe I had been taught to play like that by someone who was not Cuban. In addition, by being taught in an ergonomically correct way, I never injured or strained my hands when learning. Thanks Hamish!

- Anne Peck (Musician)