learn online!
Michael is normally a very active teacher, both privately and in his work as a clinician throughout the country at universities and percussion organizations. Under the current pandemic situation, this has come to stop until further notice, However, you should be very aware of:
congamasterclass.com
Michael is very proud of the fact that he was one of the first percussionists to develop Latin percussion content for the internet. Founded in 2008, his internationally acclaimed website "CongaMasterClass.com" soon brought world renowned percussionist Jesús Diaz on board as co-artist, and the site is now a state of the art learning opportunity for Afro-Cuban percussion and drum set. CongMasterClass.com is the only site on the internet that thoroughly and legitimately covers the entire range of instruction from BOTH popular and folkloric Afro-Cuban music styles (son, iyesa, timba, arara, songo, rumba, salsa, bata, bembe, mozambique etc.). It covers both individual instrument technique and stylistic integrity, and features an amazing array of guest artists such as Sandy Perez, Karl Perrazo, Don Pancho Terry, Yosvany Terry, Calixto Oviedo, Carlos Caro, "EL Bombon" from Pupy y Los Que Son Son, David Garibaldi to name but a few of the all-stars who come to share their knowledge with us.
In 2011 Michael also founded “SambaMasterClass.com” with master drummer Jorge Alabe. Like CongaMasterClass, it offers complete, thorough and authentic instruction in both popular and folkloric Brazilian percussion. In addition to his experience as the lead repinique player and musical director of the world famous "Oba-Oba" company, Jorge Alabe is also acknowledged as a true "alabe" (master) within the Afro- Brazilian tradition known as candomble. Along with Michael, on SambaMasterClass you can study everything about Brazilian percussion from master Brazilian musicians like Jorge. The site offers instruction in almost every form of Brazilian percussion-- pagode, samba de roda, all the percussion instruments from inside the samba bateria from Rio de Janeiro (caixa, tamborim, repinique, cuica, surdo, etc.) the rum, rump and le parts to the music of candomble, maracatu, and the percussion styles from Bahia. It is unquestionably the most complete guide to Brazilian percussion on the internet.
At the time of this posting the SambaMasterClass site is being redone, and will be available for sign-up by July 2020.