Biography

Marla Leigh is a Los Angeles based professional Percussionist, Flautist, Composer and Educator, who specializes in the frame drum.  She is a well-recognized teacher and performer in the world of frame drumming, and has created a unique approach both in playing and in teaching this instrument.  In addition to the frame drum, Marla also plays Indian Tabla, Kanjira, African Dgembe, Djun Djun, Brekete, Middle Eastern Riq, Dunbeck, electronic percussion (Handsonic) and her very own hybrid world percussion set.

Marla has taught drumming workshops throughout Mexico, USA and Hawaii, and at the North American Frame Drum Association (NAFDA), conventions in New Jersey, Los Angeles and Vermont and at the California PAS Day of Percussion.  In 2008, Marla designed her own Signature Series frame drum model, “The Marla Tar”, with the highly respectable Cooperman Drum Company. This drum has now been sold in USA, Canada, London, Japan, Korea and Australia!  Marla also released a Hand Drum Instructional DVD, "Time Zone", with percussionist Ken Shorley. She looks forward to doing more instructional videos like this. As well, Marla teaches Drumming retreats in beautiful places around the world.

Marla leads her own eclectic world music ensemble, “Rhythmjuju” (debut CD to be released Summer 2010).  Her popular performances have been at places such as: The Skirball Center, PASIC Convention, The Knitting Factory, Luzurne Music Festival, Bali Arts Festival, Hawaii Arts Festival, Sacred Music Festival Los Angeles, Topanga Earth Day Festival and the Harmony Festival.  She also performs a rockin world music solo show using a looping pedal, with ambient effects and a variety of flutes and percussion. Marla is very active in the West Coast world/sacred music scene and has played with artists such as Suzanne Sterling, Donna Delory, Hamsa Lila, Joey Lugassy and Saul david Raye

As a composer, she writes dynamic cross-cultural world music scores for film, tv and yoga/healing arts dvd's.  Her music was recently featured on a documentary film, "Two Wonders" and on an animation piece, "The Cello".  Also, Marla has been commissioned to write frame drum compositions for Brooklyn Park Elementary School and the University of Kentucky.

Marla's newest project that she is glowing about  is her debut album entitled "Rhythms in Peace".  She is very excited about this project as it is allowing her to collaborate with prominent world music artists and producers from around the world.   She is also starting a non-profit organization and an online website dedicated to the education and preservation of the frame drum.