Rhythm and Percussion with Hand Signs

Rhythm and Percussion with Hand Signs is an innovative way to create and teach music, created by Santiago Vasquez, a musician from Argentina. In this new form of playing music, a group improvises under the guidance of a conductor who, using hand signs, directs and instructs the musicians in a real-time collective improvisation. This language, which can be incorporated into any performing ensemble or general music classroom, is an immersive, playful, and engaging way to practice internal and external hearing, collaboration, and mastery mindset.

Educators can use this language to direct ensembles and teach improvisation, musical style, rhythmic literacy, and musicianship. Comprising approximately 150 signals, this language is divided into three groups: basic/beginner intermediate and advanced. This workshop will introduce most of the basic/kid friendly signals.

Daniel Jimenez is a Bolivian musician and educator specializing in Latin percussion and drum set. He has experience teaching general music, choir, band and online lessons, and he serves as a freelance drummer/percussionist recording from his home studio. Each summer, he serves as a percussion instructor at the Rushmore National MusicCamp. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Northern State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Jazz Performance at the University of Nebraska Omaha.

NAfME presents this live virtual event at no charge to all as a service to the music education profession. To register, you must enter your NAfME member information or create a nonmember account. After registering, check your email for instructions. A recording of this program will be available to all registrants for one week following the live event. Members can also view archived NAfME webinars in the NAfME Academy.

The views expressed are those of the presenter; they do not necessarily reflect the views of NAfME.