Drums with Agustin F.

Agustin Faundez R. is currently a successful freelance percussionist, teacher, and drum line instructor in the Northern Virginia and DC area. He has recently finished his term as a percussion section member with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra 2012 season. Additionally he is part of the Percussion staff at South Lakes High School and Reston Music music shop. Agustin is a rudimental and Brazilian Batucada drumming aficionado. Agustin earned his B.S. in dual majors of Music Performance and Music Therapy from the State University of New York at Fredonia. While enrolled in SUNY Fredonia Agustin studied under the direction of Dr. Kay Stonefelt, Dr. John Bacon Jr, and Ms. Tiffany Nicely, all distinguished percussionists in the Western New York area. During his undergraduate years at SUNY Fredonia, Agustin performed in the College Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, and was also a member of the SUNY Fredonia Percussion Ensemble, World Mallet Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, African Drumming Ensemble, and University Chorus. Throughout his career, Agustin has performed with distinguished musicians such as Laura Koepke(bassoon), Dr. David Rudge(violin), Bernard Woma(Master Gyil player), Dr. Kay Stonefelt(percussion), Tiffany Nicely(percussion), Jeremy Ragsdale(piano, vocals), Rita Giglioti(vocals), Charlie Himel(bass), Aubrey V. Adams(percussion), Andrew Hitz(tuba), Roger Whitworth(French Horn), Joanna Dabrowska(percussion), and Paul Durning(percussion), Glenn Sewell(Percussion), and many more. Though Agustin spends most of his time either in teaching studios and performance halls, he is no stranger to recording studios. During his college years he was a member of Buffalo area knowned band, Look The Horizon, whom which he recorded with several times, and had the chance to perform along the side of famous ska band, Big D and the kids table. In the spring of 2012 Agustin was offered to record the original compositions The Curse The Cross and the Lion by composer Nathan Felix, as the main percussionist during the process. He can also be found in a few recordings of the American Wind Symphony Orchestra 2012 tour, and most recently in the James Bond themed pep band music by Alfred's Music Publishing company, recorded under the Warner Brothers record label. Agustin has also performed with distinguished ensembles such as the Reston Chamber Orchestra, the McLean Symphony, the Fairfax Symphony, the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, Beethoven's Found Orchestra, the Whitworth Brass Quintet, and most recently the Brass of the Potomac brass band, whom he joined for their world championships competition in Cincinnati, OH. *** Lesson Details *** I am a young teacher with innovative and modern approaches for teaching percussion and drum set. I am very laid back, but also expect my students to put in the work and dedication to the lesson. Ultimately I believe that every student has the chance to become great, and that each student gets out of a lesson whatever they put in. As part of my percussion and drum set curriculum I not only teach the fundamentals, approaches, and general art of percussion and drum set, but also like to involve the student in listening, aural theory, written theory, and eurythmics. *** Studio Equipment *** Private Percussion studio including multiple drum sets, Marimbas, glockenspiels, Vibraphones, Xylophones, auxiliary percussion, Latin percussion, orchestral percussion, and African percussion instruments. The studio is equipped with everything one could possibly need to be come a well-rounded percussionist or drum set player. The studio is spacious and there is sitting provided if parents of students prefer staying throughout lessons. Street parking provided for parents/students. *** Specialties *** Percussion : I teach all percussion instruments including keyboard percussion mallet instruments, snare drum, timpani and auxiliary percussion instruments. I have classical,world percussion, and rudimental/DCI knowledge of all these instruments. I can teach Latin percussion instruments such as congas, bongos, cajon, Brazilian percussion, pandero, etc, according to the context of the music as well as the different techniques utilized for each instrument. Drum set: I am fully capable of teaching basic to advanced drum set techniques, exercises, 4 limb independence, different styles of music such as Latin, Brazilian, Afro-cu ban, rock, jazz, funk, hip-hop, etc. According to student's abilities I also teach fills, improvisation, sound quality technique, click track play along. With all the percussion instruments and styles listed above I also teach musicality and musicianship in all aspects of music. I believe in teaching a full understanding of the music and not just the instrument. Within the context of the instrument or technique being studied I teach music theoretical understanding as well as music history .