Cost is $25 – $10 (sliding scale) / Under 12 free / No one turned away for lack of funds
Open to ALL LEVELS.
Some drums will be available for loan on first come, first serve basis.
Afro-Venezuelan Percussion with Lali Mejia
Every 24th of June (during the summer solstice), Venezuelans and many other countries around the world celebrate the day of San Juan Bautista. In Venezuela, the festivities are held primarily in the central coast (north coast, caribbean-facing) where the majority of Afro-Venezuelan communities reside. During this time, many towns and communities pay homage not only to their primary saint — San Juan Bautista, but also to their african roots and heritage by playing a variety of drumming styles both ceremonial and celebratory in nature. Almost every town within the central coast of Venezuela has a native drumming style, which identifies them from a cultural perspective. This is a time where all residents in these small communities — the young, the elderly, visitors — take the streets and participate in one form or another, to give thanks, to ask for a particular wish, a miracle, or for prosperity in the new year.
1. Venezuelan Maracas
We’ll be featuring a 101 on Venezuelan maracas, and covering some essential patterns on both 6/8 and 4/4 for students to start experimenting with this amazing instrument back at home!
Participants should bring maracas (maracas with a round-shaped head are preferred). We will have some spare ones for students to borrow as well.
2. Macizón y Perra de Todasana
This fast-paced, high energy drumming style exhibits an almost trance-like exuberance. We will be learning a to play a drum typical from the town of Todasana in the central coast of Venezuela (state of Vargas, Distrito Capital).
Traditional Instrumentation: Cumaco Drum, Palos (sticks), Maracas, Vocals.
Participants should bring congas, sticks and maracas.
About Lali Mejia
A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, Lali Mejia started her musical training at an early age at the Colegio Bellas Artes in Maracaibo. Lali formally began her percussion studies under Jackeline Rago, Venezuelan instrumentalist and percussionist based in the Bay Area. She also furthered her studies traveling to Venezuela and taking specialized courses in Afro-Venezuelan percussion with master percussionist Alexander Livinalli and members from the Fundacion Biggott. Additionally, Lali studied the art of cajon flamenco in Barcelona, Spain, under Alberto Perez, flamenco singer and percussionist, with an interest in applying its technique to contemporary Latin American music.
Lali Mejia specializes primarily in the Afro-Venezuelan folklore as well as other Latin American/Caribbean styles of music. She has shared the stage with prominent musicians such as Marco Granados, Aquiles Baez, Roberto Koch, Jorge Glem, Jackeline Rago, Maria Volonté, Akira Tana and Francisco “Pacho” Flores. Additionally, Lali has participated in numerous music festivals and percussion workshops around the U.S, the Caribbean, China and Japan.
Follow Lali on FB /lalimejia and IG @lalimejia, or her band Bululú on FB /bululusf and IG @bululusf.
