MARLA LEIGH

* Curriculum Vitae *

MARLA LEIGH
PO BOX 293, Topanga CA 90290 
www.marlaleigh.com
marla@marlaleigh.com
 661.645.0724

 

EDUCATION:

Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Percussion, California Institute of the Arts, 2000.

Concentration: World Percussion, Composition, Flute.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Music. California Institute of the Arts, 1997.

Concentration: World Percussion, Composition, Flute.

Summer Studies at Ali Akbar College of Music, San Rafael, C.A. July 2002, 2003.

Concentration: North Indian Tabla, Bansuri.

 
Bhavan Center of Indian Music, London, England.  July 2000.

Concentration: South Indian Percussion.
 

Simon Frasier University Summer Percussion Program, June 1996.

Concentration: Frame Drumming Intensive with Glen Velez.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

“Inner Rhythms’ private music teaching studio, (2007 to current).
I run my own music studio where I teach both kids and adults.

Yoga of Drumming Retreats:

-         Harbin Hot Springs, CA (2008, 2009)

-         Haramara Retreat Center, Sayulita, Mexico (2008)

-         Kalani Retreat Center, Big Island, Hawaii (2003, 2005)

Yoga of Drumming Workshops:

- In the Mudra Yoga Studio, Canoga Park, CA (2010).

- Inner Power Yoga Studio, Calabasas, CA (2010).

          - Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice, CA (2010).

          - Bhakti Festival, Joshua Tree, CA (2009).

- Kripalu, Lennox MA, (part of Saul David Raye’s yoga retreat, 2009).

- North American Frame Drum Association Conventions (NAFDA), in Vermont, New Jersey and Los Angeles, CA (2008, 2009).

- Yoga World, Long Beach, CA (2009).

          - Lightening in the Bottle Festival, Santa Barbara, (2009).

- Esalen, Big Sur, CA (part of Hala Khouri’s yoga retreat, 2008;
as part of Saul David Raye’s Yoga Retreat, 2009).

          - Feather Pipe Ranch (part of Saul David Raye’s yoga retreat, 2008).

          - Topanga Earth Day Festival, Topanga, CA (2007-2010).

          - Middle Eastern Music Camp, Mendocino, CA (2008).

           - Ruach Ranch, Topanga CA (2007).

           - Center for Spiritual Studies, Topanga CA (2003).

- Infinite Yoga Studio, San Diego, CA (2003).

           -Yoga Yoga Studio, Valencia CA  (2002).

- Music Teacher, International School of the Hague, The Netherlands (June 1997).
- Music Teacher, Village Camps School, Sabres, France (June 1998).

 

PERFORMING EXPERIENCE:

Performed as a soloist or with my own ensemble (“Rhythmjuju”) at venues/events such as: The Skirball Center, Luzerne Music Festival, Knitting Factory, Irish Summer Festival,  Earth Day Festival, Harmony Festival, Sacred Music Festival in Los Angeles and the Hawaii Arts Festival  (1994-2010).

Perform regularly with artists: Donna DeLory. Karnamrita Dasi, Suzanne Sterling, Saul David Raye, and Joey Lugassy ( 1996 – current).
 

SPECIFIC TRAINING:

- Ghanaian African Drumming - teachers Alfred Ladzekpo, Kobla Ladzekpo.
- Middle Eastern Frame Drumming - teachers John Bergamo, Glen Velez, Randy Gloss
(1994 - current).
- North Indian Drumming- teachers Pandit Swapan Chaudrhi, John Bergamo,
Randy Gloss (1995-current).
- South Indian Drumming - teachers Trichy Sankaran, 
Poovalar Srininvasan (1994- current).

- Yoga – teachers Saul David Raye, Hala Khouri (2007- current).

MUSIC ACHIEVEMENTS:

          -  Commissioned composition, “Under the Lemon Tree” for Hala Khouri’s “Yoga for Stress Release” DVD (to be released in Summer 2010).

- Commissioned piece, “Raw Honey” for the film “Bold Native” (2010).

- Created own Signature Series Frame Drum with the Cooperman Drum Company (2009).

- Commissioned composition for the Brooklyn Middle School Percussion Ensemble (2008).

- Commissioned composition for the University of Kentucky Percussion Ensemble (2007).

- Created an instructional DVD for hand drumming, “Time Zone” (2006).

- Composed the score for the short animation piece, “The Cellist” (2005).

               
GRANTS/SCHOLARSHIPS:
 

-  Runner up for Fulbright Scholarship to study drumming in Israel, April 2001.

- Hostelling International Travel Grant to study South Indian drumming at the
Bhavan Center in London, England (July 2000).