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Musical Background

Teachers

J.B. Smith D.M.A.
1999 - 2002
Dr. Smith is Director of Percussion Studies at Arizona State University and was Resident Artist with Institute for Studies in the Arts.
Mark E. Sunkett Ph.D.
1999 - 2001
Dr. Mark Sunkett is a percussionist and professor of Ethno-Musicology at Arizona State University.
Glenn Hackbarth Ph.D.
2000 - 2001
Dr. Hackbarth is professor of Composition and Electronic Music at Arizona State University.
Jeffrey E. Bush Ph.D.
1994 - 1997
Dr. Bush was professor of Percussion and Music Education at University of Regina.
Bruce Brander M.M.
1993 - 1994, 1997 - 1998
Mr. Brander was instructor of Percussion at University of Regina.
Thomas Schudel D.M.A.
1994 - 1997
Dr. Schudel was Composer in Residence at University of Regina.
Frisner Augustin
2001
Vodou Master Drummer and clinician of Haitian drumming at Hunter College at the City University of New York.

Performance Experience

Solo

"Niitaka Dawn"
2002
Cathedral Arts Festival in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Graduate Recital
November 21, 2001
Katzin Concert Hall at Arizona State University.
Graduate Recital
November 21, 2001
Katzin Concert Hall at Arizona State University.
Graduate Recital
November 27, 2000
Recital Hall at Arizona State University.
Senior Recital
April 28, 1998
Campion College Chapel at University of Regina.
Joint Recital with friend and colleague, Paul Pichurski
April 14, 1996
Darke Hall at University of Regina.
CBC Live-to-Air Broadcast
March 19, 1995
"The Afternoon Edition".
Regina Music Festival
May 3, 1996
Luther College Library at Luther College with University of Regina.

Premiere

"...all things hastened back to Unity" by J.B. Smith
2001
Gammage Auditorium at Arizona State University with ASU Contemporary Percussion Ensemble.
"Oil and Water" by David Arbury
2001
At Arizona State University.
"Four Snares" by David Arbury
2000
At Arizona State University. With Quartet: Myself, Melanie Tebay, Tim Rush, Douglas Nottingham.
"Moonbeams" by Elizabeth Raum
April 6, 1998
At University of Regina. With Quartet: Myself, Paul Pichurski, Andrea Remin, Les Schafer.
"Shakes and Starts" by David L. McIntyre
April 6, 1998
At University of Regina. With Trio: Myself, Paul Pichurski, Andrea Remin.
"Three Pieces for Two Marimbas" by Dr. Thomas Schudel
October 29, 1995
At University of Regina. With Paul Pichurski.

Educational

ASU New Music Ensemble
2000 - 2001
Director: Dr. Glenn Hackbarth
ASU Contemporary Percussion Ensemble
1999 - 2001
Director: Dr. J.B. Smith
ASU African Drum Ensemble
1999 - 2000
Director: Dr. Mark E. Sunkett
ASU Pan Devils Steel Band
1999 - 2001
Director: Mr. Tim Rush
ASU Orchestra
Director: Dr. Gary W. Hill
2001
ASU Wind Symphony
2001
Director: Dr. Gary W. Hill
"Voodoo Dreams"
2001
Producer: Mrs. Sheilah Britton
Project Manager: Dr. J.B. Smith
Musical Director: Master Frisner Augustin
University of Regina Percussion Ensemble
1993 - 1998
Director: Dr. Jeffrey E. Bush
Director: Mr. Bruce Brander
University of Regina Concert Band
1993 - 1998
Director: Dr. Bruce Lobough
Director: Mr. Brent Ghiglione

Professional

Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival
March 2007
Adjudicator
University of Regina Percussion Ensemble
2005 - Present
Director and Performer.
Regina Symphony Orchestra
1996 - Present
Percussionist.
(something)
2001
Performer.
Pronounced "something in parenthesis". This troupe is an intermedia performance art group in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Primarily focused on indeterminate composition and performance.
Carnival Cruise Lines
1999
Show-band drummer. Port Canaveral to Grand Bahamian Island upon the "MS Fantasy".
Regina Lyric Light Opera
1998
Percussionist.
Canadian Forces Band of the Ceremonial Guard
1997 - 1998
Basic infantry training at Connaught and Carlton University in Ontario.
Awarded "Top Recruit" of the training platoon in 1997.
Achieved qualification levels 3-Infantry and 4-Musician.
Performed for Her Majesty the Queen during her visit to Canada in 1997.
Promotion to Corporal rank in 1998.
Promotion to Percussion section leader in 1998.
Cathedral Arts Festival
1997
Percussionist.
With Paul Pichurski and Dr. Jeffrey E. Bush, we organized a drum circle event called "Cathedral Village Drum Circle". The group still performs at the annual festival under new directors.
Prairie New Music Festival
1996
Percussionist.

Repertoire

Based on the pieces that I have collected, studied, and performed, I have created an Online Percussion Library.

Publications and Recordings

Publications
Sabine, David. (1999). "One of These Things is . . . Not Like the Others." Canadian Band Journal, 23(3), Spring 1999, pp.15 & 19.
Sabine, David. (1999 - Present). "PDDP Reference Files." Pure Data Open-Source Developers Group (www.puredata.org).
Recordings
StepChyle (2004: Drumset and Percussion)
The Band and Pipes of the Ceremonial Guard (1998: Percussion)
Canadian Forces Massed Bands Beating Retreat (1997: Percussion)
Prairie New Music Festival: Live-to-air broadcast. CBC Afternoon Edition. (1996: Vibraphone)

Biography

Music called me early in my life. The first memory I have of music (is vague and) has something to do with a blue Beluga Whale from a children's LP record that my mother used to play for me as a child. That memory is mixed with sounds from "Puff the Magic Dragon" and makes me smile when I think about it now. I also remember a friend I had in elementary school named Mark was enrolled in violin lessons. One day at Mark's house he showed me his violin and I was struck. I went home that day and convinced my mom that I wanted to take violin lessons and I promised I would practice every day -- I believe I was six-years-old.

The next momentous memory I have is the day my Uncle gave me a snare drum. It was a red field drum that he bought from a street sale for a quarter (with drumsticks!). Following that I suppose my musical education was similar to many other children. The highlights in my memory are: "The Suzuki Method", band classes in elementary school, then Concert Band and Jazz Band in high school, and a few Rock'n Roll bands (homage to "Rogues Gallery" and "BluesZone"). Those memories are less-vague than the "Beluga Whale" from Sharon, Lois, and Brahm, but they still seem very distant. Somewhere within that period, I stopped taking violin lessons (after six years of Conservatory training) and was enrolled in organ lessons (for four very long years). Eventually I was able to convince my mom that I wanted to play the drums and I promised to practice every day. I figured at the time that that would be a good angle to support my argument. Eventually my mother conceded on one condition: the drums were to stay in the garage. Well...I did practice every day and discovered that my mom and dad are wonderfully patient and tolerant!

In high school I also became quite adept at playing the bass guitar, some guitar, but my interest in drumming flourished. By the time I had graduated and then worked briefly at a steel mill, I knew that I wanted to be an "educated musician" and tried very hard to convince my mother that that wasn't an oxymoron. It didn't take much to convince her actually -- by then she had become my #1 fan and supported my decision to enroll in the Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Regina. And then early in my university career I became enthralled with the marimba and multiple-percussion. A new world of drumming opened and welcomed me (thank you, Bruce and Jeff and Paul).

Through the summers of 1997 and 1998, I lived in Ottawa and worked with a Canadian military reserve band, the "Band and Pipes of the Ceremonial Guard" -- yes, like the postcards with the red tunics and bearskin hats. This experience was a rather amazing exploration of regimental musical tradition, Canadian history, and self-discipline. Through that experience I met and became close friends with musicians across the country.

Following my undergraduate degree program and prior to commencing post-graduate study at Arizona State University, I travelled to Florida to live and work as a show-band drummer aboard the "MS Fantasy" of Carnival Cruise Lines. After enjoying four months on the Atlantic ocean and in the Bahamas I then moved to the Phoenix valley to further my studies in the Master of Music Performance degree program at ASU.

In February and March of 2001 during a production of "Voodoo Dreams", I had the opportunity to study two weeks with Frisner Augustin and Lois Wilcken of New York's La Troupe Makandal. Lois Wilcken is an ethno-musicologist who has spent many years studying with Frisner Augustin to understand and document the musical traditions of Haiti. Frisner is himself from Haiti and teaches and performs Haitian drumming throughout Haiti and the United States.

As a graduate student I grew more interested in contemporary percussion music, electronic music, installation and performance art. One might say I refined my aesthetic philosophy. Performing extensively with the ASU Contemporary Percussion Ensemble, the ASU New Music Ensemble, and with colleagues in the Music Department, Theatre Department, and the Inter-Media Department has provided me with wonderful experiences as a percussionist and digital sound designer.

I returned to Saskatchewan in 2001, and was involved in the musical community in and around Regina and I am honoured to have been invited by the University of Regina to participate as a sessional instructor of percussion, and percussion ensemble director in the Department of Music.

In September, 2007, I ventured into a new challenge in Fort McMurray where I work with Keyano College as "Web Coordinator" in the Recruitment & Communications department and also as percussion teacher for eight students in Keyano's Conservatory of Music.

    
Musical Fields of Interest
  • Contemporary Music Performance
  • Percussion Pedagogy and Literature
  • Electronic Music, Programming, Generative Composition
  • Computer Music and Digital Synthesis (Software)
  • Interactive Sonic Art
  • Music Theory and Composition
  • Philosophy of Music Education