My Study Journey

 

 

 

 

Thanks: For great knowledge I got in Africa, Brazil, Cuba, The Netherlands and in Germany I would like to thank all professionals I followed masterclasses with:

Senegal: N'Diaye Rose family (Sabá, Mbalax)
Ghana: Addy family (Kpanlogo)
Cuba: Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez (drums), Calixto Oviedo (timbales), Roicel Riverón (timbales), Mauricio Herrera (Congas), Luis Papin (Conga in Rumba), Carlos (batá in Santería)
Brazil: Dudu Tucci (Atabaque/Batucada), Gama (Atabaque in Ketu and Angola style), Alaor Soares (Brazilian percussion)
USA: Luis Conte (Afro-Cuban percussion), Armando Peraza (Afro-Cuban percussion), John Santos (Afro-Cuban percussion)
The Netherlands: Lucas van Meerwijk (timbales), Martin Verdonk (Afro-Cuban percussion), Fred Krens (drums)
Germany: Thomas Altmann (Afro-Cuban percussion), Dirk Hauptmann (Brazilian percussion), Walter Stuhlmacher (music theorie), Natalie Merfort (vocal coach)

Music Cover

    Final Examen CodArts 1999

    Line up from left to right:
    Maxim Zettel: okonkolo (child)
    Arndt Beckmann: iya (mother)
    Udo Demandt: itotele (father)

    Line up from left to right:
    Joe Fessele: piano and keyboard, Carlos Breton: bass
    George Koulas: drums, Leona Philippo: vocal
    Arndt Beckmann: percussion, Milan Bonger: alto sax
    Patrick Votrian: trombone

     

    2006: During my work as performing artist I got in contact with music from Senegal, the Mbalax music of the Wolof tradition. To get more knowledge about this fantastic music style I went to Dakar in Senegal to get Sabá lessons. 
    In the same year I graduated from the College Rotterdam with my 2'cond bachelor of education degree.

    1999: I graduated as music teacher and performing artist (DM/UM) in Latin percussion at CodArts Rotterdam.

    1998: This was my second visit in Cuba where i got great possibility to study contemporary Cuban music:
    The Son, the Charanga and modern Cuban music such as the Timba.

    1995: This was my first time visiting Cuba. In Havana I had great opportunity to learn from professionals in Afro-Cuban percussion traditions such as Batá drumming of the Santería
    and different Rumba styles. 
    In Santiago de Cuba to get knowledge about the east Cuban carnaval tradition, the Conga Santiaguerra.

    1993: I started my professional percussion education at the Conservatory for music, dance and theatre in Rotterdam (Netherlands) CodArts where I graduated in 1999 as teacher and performer (DM/UM) in Latin percussion. At Rotterdam Conservatory I got great opportunity and time in composing and arranging. My favorite music styles in worldmusic are Latin-Jazz, Afro, Pop and Funk.

    1988: In Brazil I followed lessons in contemporary Brazilian- and Afro-Brazilian percussion. On my journey from Rio de Janeiro to Salvador da Bahía and Recife I learned about the carnaval traditions Samba Batucada, Samba Raggae, Timbalada and Maracatú. Especially the Afro-Brazilian percussion traditions around Umbanda, Candomblé (Ketu and Angola style) and Afoxé impressed me a lot.

    1984: I got impressed by African music records which my mom brought home. Later I took conga lessons with German percussionist and drummer Thomas Altmann. Thomas inspired me a lot to get deeper into Afro-Cuban music. During a concert of percussion group Megadrums I got impressed by Brazilian percussionist Dudu Tucci. Later I became member of the German percussiongroup Samburgo where I engrossed in different styles of Brazilian music as well by following workshops with Dudu.

    What my listeners say: