NEXUS

In 1971 there were only two professional percussion ensembles in North America – The Blackearth Percussion Group, started by Garry Kvistad, and the “other” percussion group, founded by Bob Becker, Bill Cahn, Robin Engelman, Russell Hartenberger and John Wyre. Now there is one ensemble that contains the wealth of experience, knowledge and vision of those pioneering virtuosos. With John Wyre’s retirement, NEXUS has welcomed Garry Kvistad on board and completed an historic circle of musical ideas, artistic directions, and percussion repertoire.

NEXUS concerts embrace an incredible variety of musical styles, with an approach to programming that has opened doors and shown the way for contemporary percussion ensembles around the globe. They are truly “the high priests of the percussion world” (New York Times). A NEXUS concert is exciting, educational, colorful and, often, just plain fun.

The members of NEXUS offer an enormous array of workshops, clinics and masterclasses, covering topics that may be historical (where did the snare drum and its rudiments come from?), ethnological (how does a West African drum ensemble play together like that?), practical (exactly how do you play all of those tricky triangle and tambourine parts?), or even scientific (why are the sounds of percussion instruments so harmonically complex?). A NEXUS residency can invigorate and revitalize any percussion department.

NEXUS has defined the art of modern percussion for over three decades – unique in 1971, there is still nothing else quite like it. There is only one way to experience the link between past and present, the connections among world percussion traditions. See and hear the real thing – NEXUS!

Master Classes, Lectures and Workshops

MASTERCLASSES - student performances for audiences of students, colleagues, and the general public. NEXUS offers its experience and expertise to student performers to help them with general concerns (career goals, learning resources, etc.) and specific issues (technique, style, sound, phrasing, etc.).

1) MARIMBA AND XYLOPHONE - Bob Becker
Response to student performances of xylophone and/or marimba repertoire.
2)PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE - Robin Engelman
A mutual appraisal of student ensemble performances.
3) NEXUS MASTER CLASS - NEXUS
Individuals or small ensembles perform for NEXUS; NEXUS responds and/or works with student performers to develop ideas and skills.

WORKSHOPS - A variety of NEXUS workshop subjects are available, from North Indian Tabla Drumming and West African Drumming to Free-Form Improvisation and Xylophone History and Performance Concepts. NEXUS has presented workshops all over the world for percussion students, performers, music teachers, composers, and elementary & high school students.

PERCUSSION PERFORMANCE WORKSHOPS
Bob Becker:
4) XYLOPHONE HISTORY & PERFORMANCE CONCEPTS (lecture- demonstration) - Bob Becker more info...
5) RAGTIME XYLOPHONE INTENSIVE (hands-on course) - Bob Becker more info...
6) THE MAGIC AND MYSTERY OF CYMBALS (lecture-demonstration) - Bob Becker more info...
7) MELODIC SNARE DRUMMING AND RUDIMENTAL ARITHMETIC- Bob Becker more info...

Bill Cahn:
8) CONCERT BASS DRUM PERFORMANCE - An interactive discussion/ demonstration - Bill Cahn more info...
9) SMALL PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS IN THE ORCHESTRA - A lecture/demonstration - Bill Cahn more info...
10) CYMBALS - WHAT TO LISTEN FOR - An interactive discussion/ demonstration - Bill Cahn more info...
11) PERFORMING LIVE WITH MIDI - A lecture/demonstration - Bill Cahn more info...

Robin Engelman:
12) THE MUSIC FOR DRUMS AND FIFES - A Workshop - Robin Engelman more info...
13) PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE WORKSHOP AND CONCERT OR MASTER CLASS- Robin Engelman more info...

Russell Hartenberger:
14)RHYTHM AND TIME IN MUSIC - Russell Hartenberger more info...

Garry Kvistad
15) SOUND SCIENCE - Garry Kvistad more info...

NEXUS:
16) NEXUS’ REPERTOIRE WORKSHOP - NEXUS performs and discusses its repertoire. Topics covered include selection of individual pieces and program planning, performance techniques, working with instruments, aesthetics, and issues related to a professional performance career.

GENERAL MUSIC WORKSHOPS
17) THE MUSIC OF STEVE REICH (hands-on workshop) - Bob Becker, Russell Hartenberger
18) CREATIVE MUSIC-MAKING (Four Simple Steps to Cultivating the Inner Musician) - Bill Cahn more info...
19) INTRODUCTION TO THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC - An interactive discussion/ demonstration - Bill Cahn more info...
20) THE EARLY PERCUSSION MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE - A interactive lecture/workshop - Robin Engelman more info...

WORLD MUSIC WORKSHOPS
21) NORTH INDIAN DRUMMING (lecture-demonstration) - Bob Becker more info...
22) WEST AFRICAN DRUMMING (hands-on workshop) - Bob Becker, Russell Hartenberger

LECTURES
23) THE INFLUENCE OF NON-WESTERN MUSIC IN WESTERN ART MUSIC - Bill Cahn more info...
24) THE XYLOPHONE IN ACOUSTIC RECORDINGS - A lecture/demonstration - Bill Cahn more info...
25) THE STORY OF PERCUSSION IN THE ORCHESTRA - Bill Cahn more info...
26) A HISTORY OF THE SNARE DRUM - A lecture/demonstration - Robin Engelman more info...
27) A HISTORY OF PERCUSSION IN 20th CENTURY NORTH AMERICA - A lecture - Robin Engelman more info...

INDIVIDUAL RESIDENCIES
28) Bob Becker
29) Bill Cahn more info...
30) Robin Engelman

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