#433 Dr. Pei-Ching Wu- Percussionist, Educator, Author & More!
This week’s guest is Dr. Pei-Ching Wu. Pei-Ching, internationally renowned marimbist, obtained her master's degree in Percussion Performance from Northern Illinois University in 1994. With dissertation entitled Extended Multiple Mallet Performance in Keyboard Percussion, which illustrates six-mallet techniques through two Taiwanese compositions, Wu earned her doctorate from West Virginia University in 2005. Her teachers include Ju, Tzong-Ching, Keiko Abe, Robert Chappell, Richard Holly and Tim Peterman.
Dr. Wu is a renowned percussionist, celebrated for her unique six-mallet grip technique, which has expanded the technical possibilities of marimba performance. A founding member and senior percussionist of the Ju Percussion Group, she has helped shape the ensemble's growth and success since its inception. Wu’s innovative approach to the six-mallet marimba playing allows for greater harmonic and melodic complexity, making her a leading figure in contemporary percussion.
She has performed as a soloist with prestigious orchestras such as the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Portland Symphony Orchestra, and the Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra. Her international engagements include performances at major festivals like Quartier d'Été in Paris, the Budapest Spring Festival, Percussion Ukmergė Festival, and Croatia International Percussion Education Week.
A dedicated educator, Wu is a full-time professor at the Taipei National University of the Arts, where she has mentored a generation of accomplished percussionists. She is also a regular jury member at international percussion competitions and is committed to advancing the marimba repertoire through commissioning new works for six-mallet performance.
Dr. Wu’s pioneering spirit and dedication to the art of percussion continue to make a lasting impact on the global music community. She is also the host of radio show “Pei-Ching’s Percussion World”.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Jacquelene Acevedo! Jacquelene is a multi-percussionist based in New York City. She has been teaching since the age of 16. Trained in Theater, Dance, and Music, she is able to communicate to a wide variety of people and learning methods. This full spectrum of artistic mediums contributes to a fuller musical training experience for her students of percussion. Ms. Acevedo has taught students ranging in age from 3 to 83. In addition to a full schedule of private and class teaching, Ms. Acevedo has been invited to a number of conventions. In 2012 she presented an educational clinic at Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Austin, Texas with Ndugu Chanceler (Michael Jackson, Miles Davis). The title of the clinic, The Art of Interaction between Drumset and Percussion, is also her area of specialty which she learned by playing with her father, drummer Memo Acevedo.
Happy Birthday to Aaron Sefarty! Aaron was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He began playing drum set at the age of fifteen and started to play professionally at seventeen. He did extensive work as a session and touring drummer from 1980 until 1991 with local and international artists such as Frank Quintero, Ilan Chester, Guillermo Carrasco, Carlos Mata, Guillermo Davila, Soledad Bravo, Elisa Rego, and El Trabuco Venezolano. He was also busy doing jingle sessions for Coca-Cola, Pepsi, 7-up, Bubbilicious, Toyota, Renault, Fiat, and several regional products.
In 1991 he moved to Los Angeles to study Jazz and African American studies at the California Institute of the Arts. Aaron has also taken lessons with Peter Erskine, Joe LaBarbera, Jeff Hamilton, Jerry Steinholz, and Juan Oliva. Since his move to the US he has played with artists like Stan Kenton’s 100th birthday celebration orchestra at The Hollywood Bowl (on percussion), Arturo Sandoval, Sergio Mendes, Jon Anderson, Oscar Hernandez, Otmaro Ruiz, Dori Caymmi, Rique Pantoja, Teka, Oscar Castro-Neves, Denise Donatelli, Kristin Korb, Kathleen Grace, Bill Cunliffe, Shelly Berg, Justo Almario, and Alan Pasqua among many others.
He has done sessions on drums and/or percussion for many artists, among them Jon Anderson, Arturo Sandoval Larry Williams, Joe LaBarbera, Juan Carlos Quintero, Juan Gabriel, Eddie Reyes, Brian Swartz, Todd Hunter, a song for the movie Rio, Angry Birds Samba, Along Came Poly, and other independent releases - see “Albums” page for more! Aaron has also recorded jingles for Viceroy (worldwide campaign, 2001) and EA Sports MLB (2001).
Tours have included Arturo Sandoval’s European, Asian, and Latin American tours between 1991 and 1996, and Australian tour 1997. Jon Anderson’s 1993 Latin American tour, Larry Williams’ Japan tour 2003, Shelly Berg with the Orquesta Sinfonica Simon Bolivar, Caracas 2009.
He has done clinics and master classes at the Lima Jazz Festival in Peru (2006), First Latin American Drummers Festival in Caracas, Venezuela (2004), French Polynesia Conservatory of Music in Papeete, Tahiti (2005), Conservatorium Van Amsterdam (March 2018), and Amherst College (April 2018).
As a teacher he has taught at Los Angeles College of Music (1997-2014), at The California Institute of the Arts (2000-2014) and is currently on faculty at the University of Southern California (1997-present) where he conducts the Latin Jazz Ensemble, teaches drum set, and a Latin Percussion class.
Happy Birthday to Paulo Stagnaro! Over the last decade, with a myriad of performances across the globe, several studio projects as a sideman, television appearances, and contributions in Jazz, Pop, Latin, and World music, Two-time Grammy-Award Winning percussionist Paulo Stagnaro has established himself as an innovative voice in today’s generation of creative young artists. Hailed by jazz legend Ralph Peterson as “a young master percussionist,” Stagnaro has been a force on the ever-evolving New York music scene since moving to Brooklyn, NY in 2012.
Paulo has toured, performed and/or recorded with NEA Jazz Master Paquito D’Rivera, Grammy-Winner Angelique Kidjo, Jazz Legend Dave Liebman, Danilo Perez, Issac Delgado, Rosa Passos, and formed part of the all-star rhythm section for Sting’s 25th Anniversary Rainforest Fundraiser at Carnegie Hall featuring James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Stephen Stills.
He has been a part of international Superstar Ricky Martin’s touring band since 2014, garnering his second Grammy Award in 2015 for “A Quien Quiera Escuchar.” Stagnaro endorses Latin Percussion Instruments, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Remo Percussion Heads, Roland, Reflexx Pads, CRS Cymbal Resonance Systems and Earthworks Audio.
Gig Alerts
Tipitina’s is hosting the 3rd annual Zildjian Jam on Tuesday April 29th at 3pm CDT in the middle of Jazz Fest.
Friends of the show, Taku Hirano and Pedro Segundo will be involved as well.
The New Orleans Jazz Fest kicks off this weekend April 24th and will last until May 4th.
Friends of the show, Karl Perazzo and Paoli Mejias will be performing with Santana.
The Newport Jazz Festival, happening from August 1st-3rd, in Newport Rhode Island, has announced it’s lineup for this year. Friend of the show Obed Calvaire will be performing with the Perez, Pattitucci, Calvaire Trio.
Friend of the show, J-Rod Sullivan is next up in the Jamm Card series at the Hard Rock Cafe in Atlanta playing with the group 4 Korners Thursday April 24th.
Educational Spotlight
There are multiple Day of Percussion events happening over the next few weeks.
Also, there are 7 PAS percussion scholarships available. The deadline to apply for them is April 30th.
Iconic Recording
Pei-Ching chose this week’s iconic recording. It is “Seek” performed by the Ju Percussion Group, written by, Huan-Wei Lu.
Music News
People have been sending THIS POST about the removal of the Fine Arts and Music programs (and degrees) from Jacksonville University to comply with this current administration’s demands.
After sharing permits and stating the festival would go forward, Fyre Festival 2 organizers have postponed the festival and offered refunds for ticket buyers. -Article
The landscape of late night television has long served as a critical launchpad for artists seeking mainstream exposure. But the golden era of musical bookings moving the discovery needle is undeniably in decline—for a variety of reasons. -Article
Pei-Ching Interview
The song leading into the interview is Tajvan Chin-Cheng Lin’s Marimba Concerto No. 3 "Notre-Dame de Paris" for six mallets marimba soloist and 4 percussionists - Mov.1 performed by Pei-Ching and the Taipei National University of the Arts Percussion Ensemble.
Shout-out to friend of the show, Jamie Eckert for making the connection for this podcast episode.
Pei-Ching got her doctorate from West Virginia University and her masters from Northern Illinois University.
She chose the universities because of the touring she did with the Ju Percussion Group.
She talks about some of the professors she studied with. Including learning how to build and tune steel pans with Ellie Manette.
Pei-Ching studied piano and percussion before college.
She talks about what made her fall in love with the marimba.
Pei-Ching has written a book on how to play six mallets and some techniques. If you would like to order it, please CLICK HERE.
Pei-Ching talks about the concert where she plays 43 instruments.
She talks about “Pei-Ching’s Percussion World”, which is a radio show that she hosts. It is hosted on Bravo FM 91.3 in Taipei, Taiwan and Classical FM 97.7 in Taichung, Taiwan.
Pei-Ching’s birthday is March 31st.
She talks about her hiatus from playing from a fall and a broken wrist.
Pei-Ching took up Yoga and Thai Boxing during the pandemic.
Now she does stretching and working out at home.
One of her teachers that played piano introduced her to music. She talks about the community coming together to help her get lessons on piano at age 10.
She talks about eating stinky tofu.
Pei-Ching talks about teaching at the Taipei National University for the Arts. Where she got her undergrad from.
She mentions the Belgium Marimba Competition and the Italy Marimba Competition. You can find other marimba competitions by CLICKING HERE.
She talks about scheduling in between teaching.
She also talks about how the Ju Percussion Group has a team to help them with gigs.
Pei-Ching talks about how the members of the Ju Percussion Group met and the dynamics of the other facets of the group in the program.
She talks about the rehearsal facility, and gear involved.
Pei-Ching chooses the iconic recording for the week.
Damon mentions the performance of “Mulan”
Pei-Ching goes into more detail about using six mallets. Even a secret about using a rubber band. Damon mentions using a rubber band to learn how to use chopsticks.
Shout out to Ju, Tzong-Ching.
Pei-Ching uses Innovative Percussion Mallets.
You can follow Pei-Ching on Facebook or Instagram.
The song leading out of the interview is “Poem of Water” performed by Pei-Ching.
