Artist Detail

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George Grant

Musician - UAC Teaching Artist

About the artist:

www.DrumTalk.com Percussionist/Vocalist George Grant has earned a reputation as “an adventurous musician and intrepid teacher.” As a performer and clinician, George fuses his wide influence in World Music, with his roots in jazz improvisation. His “alternative drum sets” may include tabla, zarb, kanjira, claypots, lots of frame drums and cymbals, lots of percussion colour – and his voice -- Drum Talk vocalese and harmonic overtone singing.

He has performed with many American jazz and classical masters, and with virtuosos from Asia and the Middle East. As an Artist In Residence in Utah and Idaho, George has taught his unique Drum Talk method to tens of thousands of students in public schools and universities. He method is taught regularly at Utah State University Music Department. George has worked with a wide variety of populations and skill levels – all ages of public school children (including pre-school), mom/tot groups, university students (music and non-music majors), children and adults with disabilities, at-risk teens, adult corrections, elementary and music teachers, including Orff and Suzuki instructors, music therapists, healing arts professionals, and spiritual groups.

“The level of concentration and on-task behavior George gets from his students is astounding -- I’d estimate well into the 90th percentile. Facilitating effective learning, his guided teaching of basic skills is predictable, fast-paced, mentally and physically absorbing. His greatest strengths are modeling, pacing, and processing for retention. Participating in this class is like going on a roller-coaster ride; once you’ve started, there’s no stopping until it’s over.”

George Grant’s DRUM TALK ™ ®  George Grant’s DRUM TALK is a modern approach to an ancient method – chanting vocal syllable patterns to prepare for drumming – and all other music. For centuries, many cultures have understood the secret – “If You Can Say It, You Can Play It.” Most multi-cultural drumming methods are traditional – the music comes from a specific culture, and has been preserved and passed down for a long time. To learn traditional music, students read or memorize specific compositions, often designed for one specific instrument. George Grant’s DRUM TALK is a contemporary method based on dozens of simple listening and response activities. With universal concepts – related to all instruments and musical styles -- students learn to invent their own patterns and “weave” them with other patterns.

ALL MUSICIANS AND INSTRUMENTS  DRUM TALK is not limited to drumming. All musicians – all instruments and styles – need strength in rhythm, expression, and listening. Beyond general musicianship, the art of improvisation leads directly to basic composition.

LIFE SKILLS  Beyond musicianship, young students learn life skills: Focus Cooperation Confidence Creative Freedom For teenagers and adults, a safe and encouraging attitude towards creativity allows: Stress Reduction Socialization Recreation For Life

MASTER MUSIC FUNDAMENTALS  For many beginners, the focus of DRUM TALK is freedom of expression without competition and excess criticism. Performance in front of an audience is a personal option and decision. Those who pursue professional musicianship, DRUM TALK skills lead to mastery of fundamentals, required by all musicians: Listening In Ensemble Rhythmic Accuracy Effortless Expression and Feeling Improvisation and Composition www.DrumTalk.com

View videos of Drum Talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqOkzUle_Hs (ages 0-7) / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnLBp1gT4z0 (ages 8-14)