Joss C
Instruments: Voice, Cello, Drums, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Latin Percussion
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Latin, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba
Joss C
Instruments: Voice, Cello, Drums, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Latin Percussion
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Latin, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba
Where I Teach:
In Your Home
My Studio
Ages Taught: 10-80
ABOUT
Degrees / Training / Special Info:
MM, University of Montreal
BM, University of Ottawa
BBC London Television Production Certificate
Awards:
1998 Gold Record Holidat Heroes
1994 National Art Center Bursary
Overview:
From a family of musicians, I started playing the cello at the age of 5. After being a cellist for the Conservatory of Quebec Orchestra in Saguenay, I switched to percussion. I recorded the Flight of the Bumble Bee for the first time at age 14 and became a symphonic percussionist later with the National Art Center Orchestra of Canada as well as for the Ottawa Symphony while playing for the Starlighters and Savoy Swing Band at the Penguin cafe in Ottawa. At night I founded my first rock band, Feedback, and later joined WD 40. Selected for the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in 1985, I went on to write scores for string ensembles, a passion I am pursuing as an arranger and composer. My interests are motivated by my passion for world musics and the rhythmic complexity they offer which became the subject of my thesis on Afro Cuban Rumba Guaguanco. My classical and world music knowledge was put to service as a co-producer and director for MuchMusic-Musimax and BRAVO!
EXPERIENCE
In 1984 I was a music instructor for the Canadian Forces School of Music in Esquimalt British Columbia. Over the last three decades I have taught one-on-one lessons and ensembles at all levels including Elementary, Middle, and High School levels. More recently I founded MusiCali Kids with my wife, servicing families with the award winning program Music Together. I recently taught for the Crestwood Music Education center in N.Y. where I had over 30 students, as well as served as Conductor of the string orchestras and percussion ensemble. I was also the conductor-educator for a year for the Coastside Community Orchestra in Half Moon Bay, CA. As Choir Master for the Chancel Choir in Half Moon Bay, I conducted major choir works while also making praise song arrangements customized specifically for my students. I currently teach for the Boyle Heights community youth orchestra as well as Musical Theater for the Inland Pacific Summer intensive in Montclair California.
METHODS USED
I use a developmentally appropriate approach for preschoolers based on the Music Together® curriculum. For ages 6 to 8, I offer Musical Safari, an overview of many instruments with basis in theory, solfege and reading, helping children and parents make the right choice of instruments based on the student's interest. For adult voice I favor the clippinger method added to my choir master experience where besides the technique, I customize the songs you want to learn with personalized arrangements in your most comfortable key. For advanced percussionists I use the standard Goldberg and Firth methods. For drum set I use playback tracks for drums such as Igoe or Appice play along with strong rudiments foundations.
LESSON STYLE
My approach is "Music as a support for life." We learn beyond the technical foundations but also about the intention of an author-composer in order to give a genuine rendition true to the intended emotion. Each student is treated as a unique individual and are brought to rise to the challenges they gave themselves with my caring passion for the art of music making and my respect for the student. Taking the time to explain, breaking down complex theoretical elements spiced with my unique ethnomusicological background all done with humor and the anecdotes collected over the years from playing with professionals such as the longest running Phantom of the Opera Frank d'Ambrosio and intervieweing high profile stars such as Gloria Estefan, the Buena Vista Social Club, and even Village People !
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
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