River Guerguerian, master percussionist, recently led a “Rhythm and Sound Exploration Residency” for 21st Century Community Learning Center’s summer program at Polk County Middle School. Guerguerian’s workshop was arranged through the Tryon Fine Arts Center, where the artist has performed several times for the Explore the Arts series.
In addition to maintaining an active recording and touring schedule, Guerguerian is also a teaching artist, currently the director of music at Odyssey School in Asheville. He has led university and professional workshops throughout the world, including New York, California, Spain and Italy.
For more than 30 years, Guerguerian has played with studio musicians, partnered with Grammy-award winning composers and created dynamic plays of rhythm for his own projects.
“Students were given a week of personal music lessons from a world-class drummer, deepening their cultural and musical understanding and providing a connection to their music,” said Mike Carruth, site director. Guerguerian shared his knowledge and mastery of world music and the scientific effect of sound on mind and body with hands-on instruction using gongs, drums, Tibetan Singing bowls and computers, as well as through experimentation with instruments and amplification.
– article submitted by Marianne Carruth