My Drums of the World concerts are comprised of all original compositions and arrangements.  

Featuring the unique and intriguing instruments from Switzerland called Hang – reminiscent of the steel drums of Trinidad.  I incorporate the Hang’s beautiful, other worldly sounds with over 30 years' experience as a composer and performer.  

This multicultural concert is a showcase for an exciting variety of drums from Cuba, West Africa, Central and South America; flutes from Brazil, China and Native America; pan pipes from Bolivia; and kalimbas from South Africa. I weave variety into my performances through improvisational works using a loop station.  These multilayered songs unfold before your eyes and between your ears. 

Concert options include a 90-minute concert with intermission or a 50-minute concert with audience participation, followed by interactive drumming.  (My drum circles are a "hit" with young and old alike!)  Concerts are often combined with workshops and residency programs.  

Age Range – Suitable for all audiences; can be tailored to meet specific needs 

Non Profit Organizations – Grand Funding may be available

I compose all my music.

My Edu-Tainment is an informative, interactive and uniting blend of performance and engagement.  If you need something to kick your program off, engage after a meal, or just celebrate this program is for you.  

The beauty about this type of program is everyone comes as they are, with no skill set required.  Everyone gets the opportunity to kick their heels up a bit, show their playful side, and hear some great music to lift spirits and start those toes tapping!

The Edu-Tainment is typically a 60 minute highly interactive performance.

Age Range – Suitable for all audiences; can be tailored to meet specific needs  

Non Profit Organizations – Grant Funding may be available

Druming with Dads is a program developed by principal John Campin and Michael Fitzsimmons. This program brings fathers and children together in a fun and exciting way.  Children benefit from the fathers’ involvement in their education.  Even when a child’s mother is already involved in the school, when fathers become involved*, their children: 

• Learn more 
• Perform better in school 
• Exhibit healthier behavior 
• Have fewer discipline problems 
• Are more likely to participate in extracurricular activities 
• Enjoy school more

            * Sources: U.S. Department of Education

Don't worry - it's not just for Dads!  Big brothers, uncles, grand dads, moms, grand moms, anyone who is an influencing figure in the young person's life are all welcome!

The Drumming with Dads program can be structured in a variety of ways.  The one hour sessions are designed to build upon each other. 

• Make and decorate drums.  The participants are encouraged to decorate their drums with meaningful words, phrases and symbols.  Once drums are made, the group participates in open drumming. 
• Learning and Playing rhythms.  Participants explore a variety of rhythms, how to create a unique rhythm, and ways to play their drums to produce different sounds.  
• Group rhythms.  Participants learn a three part rhythm, how to create stops, and showcase a solo rhythm. 
• Performance.  Participants practice and perform, either for themselves or for a larger audience.  (Optional:  2 sessions) 

This program delivers the following Music and Educational Elements: Rhythm, Timbre, Dynamics, Texture, Form, Structure, Expression, Personal empowerment, Cultural awareness/appreciation, Bio-diversity. 

Drumming with Dads can be broken into 4 or 5 separate one hour sessions, or combined into fewer sessions.  Options include: 

Additional sessions to enhance and develop complex rhythms 
Drum Circle sessions led by Michael to continue the drumming experience 
Make additional instruments including Kalimbas (thumb piano) and Rain Sticks. 

Contact us to customize the perfect Drumming with Dads program for your group.

Suitable for all ages.  Grant funding may be available for non-profits.

MAKE YOUR INSTRUMENTS There are three percussion instruments to make:  frame drums, kalimbas, and rainsticks.  This workshop enables participants with hands on experience in making and decorating their own instruments.  Participants learn about the construction of the instruments, and how different variables affect the sound produced.  By creating instruments from easily accessible materials, the imagination is sparked, and additional learning opportunities can follow in the classroom after the workshop.  This workshop can be combined with the Drum and Rhythm workshop and the Living Green workshop.

Suitable for all ages.  Grant funding may be available for non-profits.

DRUMS AND RHYTHM  The participants learn and perform various rhythms, explore improvisation while interacting with others, perform in lead and solo roles, develop personal expression of rhythms, and perform as a group in a multi-part rhythm.  This includes the opportunity to have ‘hands on’ exploration of a variety of percussion instruments from around the world.  Drums are provided for participants to use.  This workshop can be combined with Make Your Instruments workshop and Living Green workshop.

Suitable for all ages.  Grant funding may be available for non-profits.

LIVING GREEN  Culturally, many instruments have their origins from materials in the environment, even discarded materials.  The Living Green workshop focuses on the cultural history of many wonderful instruments to ignite the imagination and spark creativity.  Michael presents a variety of examples from our everyday world to demonstrate just how creative our minds can be once we start looking and seeing things in a new way.  Participants explore their own environment to discover sounds and create instruments uniquely their own.  This can include outdoors exploration to find sounds from nature, or sounds found in the immediate workshop environment.  This workshop can be combined with the Drum and Rhythm workshop and the Make Your Instruments workshop.

Suitable for all ages.  Grant funding may be available for non-profits.

 ANIT-BULLYING  Music has been recognized world wide as a way to break down barriers.  This workshop does just that.  Using phrases of inclusivity and empowerment, we add rhythm to the phrases.  We then blend these rhythmic phrases into a multi-part rhythm.  Students learn to play in unison, and incorporate silent pauses.  During these silent pauses, each student performs a solo, then re-joins the group.  This workshop focuses on increasing awareness of the unique value each of us brings to a group, as well as the joy of being part of a group. This workshop can be combined with the Drum and Rhythm and Make Your Instruments workshops.

Suitable for all ages.  Grant funding may be available for non-profits.

CREATIVE HEALING  Full or half day workshops for therapists, care givers and those in the healing profession.  Workshop focuses on techniques to integrate into daily practice with patients, as well as ways to use rhythm for personal wellness. 

Suitable for all ages.  Grant funding may be available for non-profits.

 Composing and Building Layers of Interest This workshop teaches basic elements of composition.  Participants learn how to create an interesting beginning, middle and end of a composition using a variety of rhythms and percussion instruments.  They will work in small groups to create a short rhythmic piece and perform it for the group.  This workshop can be combined with the Drum and Rhythm and Make Your Instruments.

Suitable for all ages.  Grant funding may be available for non-profits.