Honors Recital: My Love My Passion

Posted on by
2

KCox_SeniorRecital

Hello all,
Here is a video highlighting my recent honors recital. This occasion was very special and momentous; like a dream that became reality. Since my freshmen year in college I wanted to showcase my talent in a different way; where it’s more than just a regular “viewing” or “listening” recital. I wanted to create an atmosphere of a production where people could interact, dance, listen, sing, laugh, clap, and feel inspired from my performance and intellect on percussion. With the help of friends family and my community I truly believe I’ve accomplished my goal with this performance.
Here are a few selections from my entire show in this YouTube video. It was more than an honor and too much fun to express myself musically and intelecutally. Please share and subcribe; I hope you enjoy!

(if you do not see the video, I’ve attached a link below)
My Honors Recital

KEEP IT DIVERSE,
K.Cox

(Please email me if you would like a copy of the full recital)

Follow Up: PASIC 2012

Posted on by
5

PASICHello world, Happy new year! I hope you will have more favor in 2013 than you did in 2012.

Now, I understand I am a tad bit late on this post but I still felt the need to express myself on a life changing/inspirational moment; PASIC 2012.

There’s a world wide organization that links all percussionist, drummers, batter beaters, ethno-analyist, hand hitters, egg shakers, and pot bangers together; it is called the Percussive Arts Society (PAS). Every year PAS have an international conference, PASIC, where they bring world renown drummers, percussionist, ensembles, companies, booths, colleges, schools, programs, and distributors in one place to enjoy and share their knowledge. Clinics, sessions, meetings, performances, and competitions are just a few among several activities one can be immersed.

This past PASIC was held in Austin, TX. I had pleasure of not only attending but also learning sharing networking and playing among the greats in percussion. It was like a land full drum nerds and gurus; any style or form of percussion was all there for a week. All the different clinics seminars and performances were greatly appreciated and accepted, but my favorite, favorite, FAVORITE aspect was the exhibit hall! I felt like a kid in the candy store! (My version of TOYS R US). Anything you can think of percussion was in there. Drums, books, videos, cymbals, world percussion, drum circles, old drums, new drums, marimbas, crazy technology just for drums was there, AND MORE. I was able to look with my eyes and my hands (and feet); play on anything, test new products, talk to people that work for various companies, and even talk to young and new legends in the drumming world. All were very open and excepting to help me, I felt a special “bond” because everyone I encountered shared the same love, percussion.

I truly urge ANY person that is serious about percussion to be a member of PAS. Push yourself to want to learn more about the craft, expand your mind, be open to new and different things. I had an AWESOME time and will continue to travel and experience more from the Percussive Arts Society.

Keep It Diverse,
K.Cox

P.S
Here is a link to learn more about the Percussive Arts Society and PASIC.

http://www.pas.org/index.aspx

Grateful Fear

Posted on by
1

Hello all,

Hmm, what  can I say… I’ve made it through college. I thought the transition from high school to college was strange. Studying, late night sessions, CLASSES, no sleep, lost friends, new family, connections, parties, cook-outs, projects, bonds, and  basically people that are ride or die for me and me for them. I really appreciate every positive and negative person throughout the years.

Now I’m just thinking; feeling overwhelmed, pressured, anxious. About what? Why this sudden rush of fear? This fear is sparked from facing a everyday challenge every human being has or will face… FAILURE… REALITY… Not being GOOD enough. After college, What to do? Where to go? Who to talk to? Is that person’s information accurate? Am I truly ready? I don’t know… I don’t if I am going to fail, succeed, or just get by. Am I going too have a basic job? What/Where is my future after college? I don’t know, IDK…

But that’s the thing I really DON’T know. If I don’t know why be worried or stress? Why doubt myself, Why doubt my friends and family support? Why doubt our intellect? Why doubt  our talent, our future? Why as a society we doubt or stress what truly make us happy? Our destiny? I’m happy and grateful just to receive an education I truly worked hard for.

Here, a 24 year old positive black male that LLOOVVEE some drums is receiving a degree in something he loves, MUSIC, is truly a blessing.

I will no longer stress, doubt, feel anxious, or fear what is meant for me. Be grateful for the talent God has blessed us with and use this talent to be a blessing to others. Just follow your heart everything will fall into place. I am forever thankful for my life….

K.Cox,

Diverse Percussionist

My 1st Love, the Djembe

Posted on by
2

My kids

Hello all,

I have been playing drums for quite sometime but my first encounter with percussion was West African drumming. One of the most popular instruments coming from the continent is the Djembe (Gym-bay), a goblet shape drum covered with a goat or calf skin. Its head is tradionally rope pulled to give tension and produce its tone but modern versions of the djembe use tension rods and synthetic heads. The djembe usually accompanied by a fammily drums: Dundun, Sangban, Kenkeni, Bell, Kora, and Balaphone.

I do not remember the exact age in once I started playing, but I do remember starting at a very early age (probably six). My mom would take my sister and I to African class; three times a week, no cartoons, no video games, just immersed in the West African culture Tallahassee offered. Not knowing what my mother was nourishing, I would complain and pout because I was young and wanted to play with friends. Now, I cannot get enough of playing listening and learning about West African drumming.

Every time I play I feel: joyful, content, elated, blessed, and truly happy to express myself musically, show to my community what they birth out of me, and pay tribute to those master drummers, teachers, friends, family, loved ones that have positively influence me to be who I am today. Currently, I am actively involved in the Tallahassee Community College African Ensemble, several local African dance classes, and a Cultural Performance Collective called TutuOla. I would never imagine that playing in this field of percussion I would travel the country, positively effect people, and be a role model to the youth.

Every one may not be able to play djembe because of the technical difficulty, but it is a beautiful historical and thriving culture to learn about and language to explore. You can can check out links of TutuOla on my YouTube page (youtube.com/Chopnasty1), also there are links of master drummers and more historical information on the djembe below.

Keep It Diverse and Get Some Chops! #GSC

K.Cox

TutuOla, Laurent Camara, Mamdy Keita, History of Djembe

K.Cox at PASIC

Link

1

Great times at PASIC

Hi World,

Check out my YouTube page: www.youtube.com/Chopnasty1… here is a tab to my latest video ScoJo and ChopUni

Its me at PASIC 2012 in Austin, TX. I’m sharing my knowlege with the nationally renown and respected Scott Johnson. I was honored just to play with him and even more excited to hear him say, “Teach me something!” He is a really cool guy, and has KILLER CHOPS!!! Be sure to check him out on YouTube

and even on his site http://scojopercussion.com/

Get Some Chops (keep practicing)

Hello world!

Posted on by
1

Get some chops

Hello World,

I am Kerian Cox a senior and future graduate of the most esteemed Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University located in Tallahassee, FL. I will be receiving my BA degree in Music with a concentration on Percussion in a couple of weeks!! (three).

I am from Tallahassee, FL where I attended James S. Rickards High School and graduated in 2007. I am now 24 years old having a passion for all styles of music and love for types of percussion; ranging from Marching Snare, Tabla, Triangle, Marimba, Taiko, Frame Drum and even just creating a simple beat on a table with my fingers. Literally, anything I can get my hands on, I will/can make it percussive. I was raised around percussion, not just drums. Starting at a very early age from beating on pots and pans then later transitioning to: West African percussion, Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz/ Drum Set, Latin Percussion (in that order) to just being appreciative of every cultures style of music, percussive language, and ways of life.

The name ChopUniversity came from a original composed snare drum duet a friend and I created. I really like the pun or “play on words” and feel ChopUniversity gives off to the individual. My philosophy; A University is the highest form of “taught” education one can recieve. So why not have a highest form of education within Percussion. Whether it’s performing, practicing, teaching, or learning. One should strive for the highest in wanting to play/ learn the most advance concepts of percussion.

My future aspirations are to attend graduate school and receive a masters in percussion performance. I want to travel the world, giving clinics on percussion, have studio sessions, write books, create positive music, play drums/percussion for any touring artist/ group. Later on in life I would love be a percussion instructor for any major collegiate studio while continuing to give back to others.

Within this blog, I am more than willing to share, not only my knowledge of percussion, but also my influences of drummers, styles, concepts, philosophies, and also using those aspects into becoming a better musician and individual in life. My goal is not to create a great drummer but be influential to someone to make positive decisions in life; all the while grasping your attention with my drums.

If you have any questions about ANYTHING, feel free to ask and me via: EMAIL, FACEBOOK, TWITTER. Be blessed and Get Some Chops! #GSC