#242 Mike Truesdell- Percussionist, Faculty at Ithaca College and More!
The photo of Mike was taken by: Lydia Bittner-Baird
This episode is sponsored by Eucatape. Use the code EUCATAPE15 for 15% off at checkout.
Most percussionists find themselves playing percussion via one of two avenues: through drum set or piano. Mike Truesdell picked the second…kind of. Starting his musical career on a Cracker Jack box with a ruler taped to it, Mike mastered the art of holding this box under his chin until he graduated to a violin so small that could double as a Christmas ornament. Everything went well for him until he was required to add vibrato to a note. Then, after promptly discontinuing the violin, he started piano lessons with the irreplaceable Vicki Jenks, who nurtured him in both piano and percussion until he was ready to leave the nest.
Upon leaving the nest, he settled in at Lawrence University under the wing of Dane Richeson, a master in the art of encouragement. By encouraging travel, Dane inspired Mike to study abroad in Amsterdam with Peter Prommel and members of the Concertgebouw. Then, upon graduation, Mike set off to Lucerne, Switzerland to work with Pierre Boulez and the members of Ensemble Intercontemporain. In a rare moment of reflection, Mike was proud that his musical tastes had grown from “Go Tell Aunt Rhody” to the music of Maestro Boulez.
Lawrence took a lot out of Mike…in a good way… but he felt that grad school had to wait. So it did. In his two years in between his Bachelors and Masters work, he founded the Savanna Oaks Percussion Ensemble (SOPE, for short), which turned out to be among the most rewarding experiences of his life. At first he really didn’t care for middle schoolers (especially in large groups). Soon he really learned to love their energy and learning style, and they had a fabulous two years of playing at the airport, teachers’ meetings, lunches, and going to Red Robin.
Also in that interim time, Mike teamed up with two of his great friends, Dane Crozier and John Doing and formed Spectrum Trio, the self-proclaimed “greatest group of all time.” They were even the #1 album sales at PASIC in 2009!
Then, Mike decided to get on with the whole school thing and went to Juilliard, where he studied with Daniel Druckman, Gordon Gottlieb, Markus Rhoten and Greg Zuber. He even knew some folks from Lawrence U who were also matriculating! Juilliard sometimes gets a bad rap and a lot of hype. For all the hype, it was absolutely amazing. There he worked with world-class performers, conductors, and composers and met some close friends who he still plays with today!
While pursuing a Masters degree, Mike had a momentary lapse of concentration and decided to go back to school again, though this time for 5 years, to somehow grasp that illusive DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts). He finished up with that degree, also at Juilliard, in May of 2016. After a summer of fun in the sun of Ojai, California, Mike started up as Assistant Professor of Percussion at University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. After three very rewarding years in Greeley, and having a sea of memorable performances, students and colleagues, he moved back to the east coast. Currently he is serving as Assistant Professor of Percussion at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, and is currently writing this from the desk of his predecessor, grand-teacher and PAS Hall-of-Fame inductee, Gordon Stout.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to (friend of the show) Darren Hazlett! Darren is currently the Battery Percussion Director and Arranger for the West Chester University Incomparable Golden Ram Marching Band. He is a former arranger and educator of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. As a performer, he spent 7 years with the Crossmen (1992-1998) and was a cast member of the Broadway show Blast! (1999-2002). He is a marching percussion clinician for Vivace Production and is also a member of the Vic Firth Education team. Darren resides is southeastern Pa. with his family and works as a middle school band director.
Happy Birthday to Ricardo “Tiki” Pasillas. “Tiki” is multi-talented. He is a drummer, multi-percussionist, and vocalist, who has been performing professionally in Los Angeles for the past 16 years. Born in Oakland California on August 17, 1968, Ricardo is commonly known as 'Tiki'. The nickname was bestowed on him during childhood by his older cousin Jesus (aka Pipo) because pronouncing Ricardo or Ricky was rather difficult for Pipo. The nickname stuck and Ricardo has been called 'Tiki' ever since.
After playing semi-professionally in the Bay Area, Ricardo "Tiki" Pasillas moved to Hollywood to attend Musician's Institute. While there he was the recipient of the Latin Stylist Award. Tiki joined a top 40 band called Paper Doll. He played drums and sang with this group five nights a week. Says Tiki "I learned how to use my diaphragm because I had to play drums and belt out the lead vocals at the same time". He dedicated the rest of the year to finishing at MI. Upon finishing, Tiki started to teach there. Word of mouth took its rounds and gave him work. "When Lambada came out it gave me quite a bit of work Ha Ha, but it's true." Tiki started playing in the Brazilian community with fresh new talent from Brazil such as Katia Moraes who asked Tiki to help her in putting together a new band called The Rio Thing. They were a smokin' little Samba band that dissipated just in time for Tiki to make himself available to the Latin bands of Los Angeles. Son Mayor, a group fronted by the brothers Ortiz, was Tiki's first solid salsa band experience. With Alfred Ortiz close to him, they both learned a variety from each other for years to come. Working for a variety of employers, including Susie Hansen one of the hardest working band leaders, started Tiki's upward spiral into the music scene with musicians such as Buddy Rich's bassist Curtis Olsen, Alex Acuña, Justo Almario, and Abraham LaBoriel just to name a few.
Happy Birthday to percussionist and inventor Ryan Lacey. Ryan is the percussionist for Celtic super group Gaelic Storm. As a hard working drummer & percussionist Ryan has toured the world with the band for over 15 years playing his unique hybrid percussion set up. Ryan Lacey specializes in drum set, hand-percussion, and how to make learning drums a fun experience. Learn to play all styles of music from World Music (Cuban, African, Brazilian, Caribbean, Irish etc...), Funk, Rock, Jazz, Hip Hop and everything in between. Ages 6 and up.
Gig Alerts
There are music Industry job openings at both Malletech and Marimba Productions / Mostly Marimba. If you are interested in a career in music publishing, or musical instrument manufacturing, check out the details at these links. We’re located a half mile from the Atlantic Ocean near historic Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Click HERE for jobs at Malletech. Click HERE for jobs at Mostly Marimba/Marimba Productions.
Wednesday August 17th, at 9pm EST! Join the Jazz Foundation of America for Spotlight Jazz. A ONE NIGHT ONLY live streaming event to help raise funds for the JFA's COVID 19 Emergency Fund. Tune in live at THIS LINK and be sure to watch this incredible all-star lineup.⠀
Next Friday The Salsa Project is bringing the vibes again with Salsa Pa’ La Cultura!
CLICK HERE for tickets to see Jeremy Bosch and his Orchestra (featuring friends of the show)! Additional music by Javier Raez.
Lastly, Damon will be playing percussion with Norbert Leo Butz at Fienstein’s/54 Below in Manhattan Thursday-Saturday. You can get more details and tickets by CLICKING HERE.
Social Soundbyte
Friend of the show Bashiri Johnson recorded on the soundtrack for the new release about Aretha Franklin’s life called Respect.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording this week is called Velocities (moto perpetuo). It is a piece for solo marimba by Joseph Schwantner, that was commissioned by the Percussive Arts Society with a National Endowment for the Arts Consortium Commissioning Grant. It was written for Leigh Howard Stevens, along with William Moersch and Gordon Stout. According to the composer, the music is characterized by a continuously unfolding texture of rapid gestures within a framework of continually shifting meters. It is very reminiscent of minimalism, and requires almost viruosic playing ability at times.
Music News
Nashville venues band together to enforce COVID entry requirements to stave off shutdowns. Several of the city’s independent music venues are standing united on the requirement that guests be vaccinated before attending shows. Venues coming together under the #Keep615Live campaign include City Winery Nashville, The 5 Spot, the Exit/In, 3rd & Lindsley, The Basement, The Basement East, the End, the East Room, and the Cannery Complex – including the Cannery Ballroom, Mercy Lounge, and the High Watt. -Article
Live Nation Implements COVID-19 Vaccine, Negative-Test Requirements at Festivals and Venues. The Beverly Hills-based concert promoter just recently detailed the updated health requirements for those who wish to attend its festivals or enjoy live entertainment at its venues. Beginning on Monday, October 4th, Live Nation will require fans to demonstrate that they’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID – or, as is also the case at AEG venues and events, that they’ve tested negative for the bug sometime during the 72 hours before showtime. Live Nation employees, on the other hand, cannot present negative COVID-19 tests and must receive a vaccine. -Article
All AEG live music venues will implement a new vaccine policy on October 1. All 48 clubs and theaters owned or operated by AEG Presents will be required to follow the new guidelines. New York City’s Webster Hall, Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre, and Denver’s Bluebird Theater are among some of the venues with the new policy. The new vaccine policy will also apply to all AEG live music events – Coachella, Day N Vegas, and Firefly. -Article
Despite this week’s cancellation of several crowd-based events, Bonnaroo 2021 is still set to kick off on Thursday, September 2nd – though attendees will have to show that they’ve tested negative for or been vaccinated against COVID-19. Beginning with the Manchester, Tennessee, festival’s conditions for entry, ticketholders must demonstrate that they’re fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus – meaning that at least two weeks have passed since they received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
Alternatively, officials will require those who aren’t fully vaccinated (or haven’t brought their vaccination cards) to present a negative COVID-19 test from sometime during the latter 72 hours. On-site COVID-19 tests will be available (for $40 apiece) for unvaccinated ticketholders who don’t have proof of a negative test from the prior three days, and both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals will then receive a “Health Check Wristband,” which is required to enter Centeroo. -Article
Mike Truesdell Interview
The music leading into the interview is called “Ogun” by Mike and his Spectrum Trio.
The way Mike and Damon met was that Damon did a thing with Jon Singer and his 3rd Floor Percussion Bazar helping sell some gear. One of the things to be bid on was a lesson with Damon. Percussionist Allison Ross won the lesson and asked to turn the lesson into a masterclass for her percussion studio at Ithaca College of music.
Some of the things talked about in that masterclass can be found in THIS ARTICLE HERE.
Friend of the show Michael Compitello was premiering new snare works with different timbres and effects. Mike Truesdell did the prelude and postlude of the concert as a special guest.
Mike and Damon talk about different types of solo performances, the lengths of sounds, in addition to the attack of the notes.
Damon mentions this company, Bovid Percussion, that specializes in calfskin heads. Kentville Drums in Australia make drum heads out of Kangaroo.
Mike and Damon talk about customizing your drums with different elements like these snare wires from Grover Pro Percussion.
Damon brings up Stroopwafels and Poffertjes. Mike talks about the Netherlands, the conservatory, the orchestra, and bikes.
Mike studied at the University of Amsterdam. Shout-out to Rachel Zhang.
Damon talks about Blast! and learning languages. Mike connects language to concepts. Damon mentions Max Martin.
Mike was in the Madison Scouts front ensemble in 2002.
Shout-out to Andy Bliss.
Mike talks about the importance of failure to learn lessons as well as learning how to learn to get better. Shout out to David Goggins.
Mike talks about qualifications to be able to teach on the collegiate level.
Creativity, thoughtfulness and skill are the pillars of teaching that Mike comes back to for his students. Mike also uses John Bergamo’s Style Studies for students playing the marimba.
Shout-out to friend of the show Michael Spiro, his conga guidebook and Dane Richeson of Lawrence University (where Mike got his undergrad).
Mike talks about the album “Bata Ketu”
Shout-out to friend of the show, Eduardo Leandro, and drummers that are also pilots like Nico McBrain and Bill Burr.
Damon and Mike talk about classical Cuban music like: Cachao Master Sessions Vol 1, Cachao Master Sessions Vol 2, and the tune Michel Camilo was inspired by is called La Comparsa by Ernesto Lecuona.
Some of the history Damon was referring to made reference to The Contradanza was important in Cuba as a big French influence. It was the predecessor to the Danzon (which later evolved into the Cha Cha, Pachanga and Mambo).
The music of the cities was the Danzon, and the aforementioned styles, but also the urban street music was Rumba (Guaguanco) or Congas/Comparsa (in Santiago, Cuba). That would be the equivalent to Samba in Brazil.
The countryside/mountains of Cuba was musica Campensina which later became Guajira. The guitar like instrument, the Tres has influenced modern Cuban Son. One of the more popular musicians for musica campensina is Celina Gonzalez.
There’s a couple of outlines that can help, like THIS ONE, and THIS ONE.
Here is the TIMBALES BOOK that Mike mentions by the great Changuito. The name of the Danzón group Mike tried to remember is called Orquesta la Moderna Tradición.
Shout-out to Vicki Jenks, Jamie Ryan, Dane Richeson, Daniel Druckman, Markus Rhoten, Greg Zuber, Gordon Gottlieb, Javier Diaz, Glen Velez, and more!
Mike uses Zildjian cymbals, Marimba One instruments, and Black Swamp percussion.
You can follow Mike on his Website, Ithaca College, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
