MARTIN ESPINO
Prehispanic Music Programs
"Get to know Martin"
- For 29 years, since 1975 I have researched the Music of Mexico. Sorry copycats!
- I am well known as an innovator in Motivating and Exciting my Audiences.
- I have intensive experience with ALL ages, other ethnicities, beliefs and abilities, whether physical, mental or behavioral.
- If you don't know me or my work, I say, "worry about other artists, not me." Ay yay yay, pero it's true!!! Ya know: 38 years as a pro and, of course, age gives me this power.
- Another Martinism, Give it to me, I'll go I'll get it done
- In working with my audiences/students, I always use my super energetic personality (obviously), my culture, positive vibes, honesty, lots of humor and absolutely high motivation skills.
- Since the 1980's I have been a pioneer of what I call Interactive Performance. I do perform concerts, of course, but in my Interactive Performances listed below, I get my audience to participate by singing Easy-to-sing-songs in ancient languages and performing on my native percussion instruments like the turtle shells, water drums, drums, rattles, rain sticks, log drums and more. 90% of those instruments are stationary and built by me.
- I bring a virtual museum of Pre-Hispanic, or rather, Pre-European instruments, which are explained at my website in more detail.
- I ALWAYS explain America's present day connection to it's ancient past! Ya can't hide!
- My presentations can be customized to cover concepts from my Residence Program which is listed below.
- In the summer of 2003 I began another innovation, Interactive Storytelling
Nine Totally InterActive Assemblies
NOTE: ALL MY PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE YOU TO INVESTIGATE YOUR CULTURE, YOUR ANCESTORS AND, ULTIMATELY, YOURSELF. PEACE IN OUR WORLD IS AIDED BY THE SELF-KNOWLEDGE PEOPLE HAVE.
#1 - Ancient Mexico Sounds and Songs of My Ancestors (Solo or with MEXIKA)
#2 - Ancient California
#3 - Ancient Homelands (Pre-European Sounds of North, Central and South America)
#4 - Amazon (includes the Portuguese language)
#5 - Music of the Andes (with master folklorist from Oruro, Bolivia, Mario Torrico)
#6 - Journey through the Americas (indigenous, colonial & modern folk instruments)
#7 - NEW for 2005!!! Navidad en Aztlan (Solo or with MEXIKA) Tradition, Culture, Legend, History of Christmas. Music from Spain to Mexico. Prehispanic roots are discussed: origins of tamales to pinatas and more.
#8 - NEW for 2005!!! The Heart of Bamboo Acoustic & Electronically processed positive groove sounds of Bamboo Instruments.
#9 - NEW for 2005!!! G - House Acoustic & Electronically processed positive groove sounds of Gourd Instruments.
The last two assemblies #8 and #9 are TOTALLY INNOVATIVE and very groovy programs that offer the same as the above programs: History, Culture, Geography, Extreme Environmental Facts, Indigenous Ways but in Heart of Bamboo and G-House I added something new: use of Electronic Technology mixed with Groove-Trip-Hop rhythms. Yes, this is my experimental side that not many people know about. No one is doing this type of groove actively but don't worry there will be clowns who will try and copy my groove and say they learned it from their shaman grandfather LOL!!! Fa-shizzles!!! These programs have new sound; for example, you'll hear what sounds like a drum machine groove but it is actually the sounds of the natural instruments but electronically processed. I alter and mix these sounds so that it seems like a drum set or keyboards, etc. and I will also do live sampling which makes me sound like a huge groove band. My object here is to be a sort of indigenous/electro DJ and make education, technology, culture and environment all rolled into a very tasty and fun thing, plus I get to have fun and make my audience groove too, in a positive way, ya know, no bad words like a lot of popular music has!!! My new cool sounds here have been fried, dyed and laid to the side.
Two InterActive Storytelling Programs
STORY TELLING PROGRAM:
#1 - ETEHOI Tellingz (Yaqui Indian Stories with participation) Martin weaves, stories/legend/life lessons with music and sound and audience participation to relate the stories of his grandfather's Yaqui heritage. Included: Yaqui language Yoeme, percussion playing, listening skills, mathematics, stories that talk about the universe, love, respect and being good. This program only focuses on one geographic area: Sonora, Mexico.
#2 -THE ANCIENT WEST (Sounds and Stories of the Ancient Wild West: California, Arizona, Northern Mexico).
18 Musical Instrument Making Classes
INSTRUMENT MAKING - using all-natrual materials: Bamboo or Gourd materials (Grades K - Adult)
Includes: playing technique; how to create your own songs, based on a simple compositional method I created; also geography, plant origin, environment/recycling, listening skills & cultural history. Each workshop ends with a song to use the instruments. I teach with humor and simple but very direct language. I educate in a very cool way. I am also an expert in Bamboo and Gourd work. When possible I like my BAMBOO workshops to have as much time as possible in order to talk about Bamboo origins and environmental impact! Otherwise, I do a hand-out that expresses all this info in both English and Spanish. So, when classes need to be at less time they will still get the education via the hand-out info. Note: back in the 1980's I originated the Bamboo Panpipe workshop but since the year 2000 until now, I have made over 20,000 of these instruments because the demand has increased. The other popular instruments are: Bamboo Flutes (new and since January 2004-March 2004 I have already made over 2,500 flutes); Ocarinas (new), Mirlitons (new) and Clapper Stick (new).
NOTE: ALL my workshops can be made to last longer to give time to learning or decorating and I can attach the following aspects of my assemblies to ANY INSTRUMENT MAKING WORKSHOP such as:
1) Introduction to Ancient Mexico Drumming session.
2) Introduction to Ancient Mexican wind instruments with a Rain Forest Soundscape.
3) Introduction to Musical Instruments of Ancient California.
4) My heritage: Tepehuano and Yaqui Indian Storytelling with music (stories for all ages about Coyotes, Snakes, Bears, Rabbits and Mythical animals)
5) ---or--- Anything YOU want to focus on!!!
- Bamboo Panpipes (two 45 minute sessions or one 90 min session)
Ages: K-easy Adults. It's up to you but I think the longer time the better!!! - Bamboo Flutes (60 minute rushing it but possible better is: 90 min or three 45 min sessions)
Ages: K-easy-Adults It's up to you but I think The longer time the better!!! - Gourd Rattles (one hour or two 45 minutes sessions to allow more for artwork)
Ages: K-easy - Adults - Bamboo Mirlitons a.k.a. Kazoos (45 minute session)
Ages: K-easy - Grade 3 up - California Clapper Stick (one hour/best at 90 min session)
Ages: Grade 2 - Adults - Bamboo Mayan Trumpet (45 or 90 minute session with Mayan drum session)
Ages: Grade 3 - Adults - Gourd Ocarina Flutes (Must discuss length of workshop as amount of work can vary)
Ages: Grade 3 - Adults - Gourd Rain Sticks (Must discuss length of workshop as amount of work can vary)
Ages: Discuss - Adults - Bamboo Rain Sticks (Must discuss length of workshop as amount of work can vary)
Ages: Discuss - Adults - Gourd Water Drums (1 hour to 3 hours. Included: making padded stick to play it)
Ages: Discuss - Adults - Gourd Kalimbas (Must discuss length of workshop as amount of work can vary)
Ages: 11 - Adults - Bamboo Marimbas (same a above)
Ages: 11 - Adults - Bamboo Teponaztli Mexika Log Drum (same a above)
Ages: 13 - Adults
INSTRUMENT MAKING - using Recycled Materials
(Emphasis on Pre-K Ages)
Length of workshop: 1 hour long. Don't worry, the kids stay motivated. Includes: song, rhythm and listening skills
- Flower Rattle (made from industrial cardboard)
Ages: Pre-K & K - Ocean Drums (made from recycled materials)
Ages: Pre-K & K - Mirlitons (a.k.a. Kazoo made from cardboard or bamboo-discuss)
Ages: Pre-K & K - Jaguar Voice (cardboard or bamboo-discuss)
Ages: Pre-K & K - Antara de Mano (medium to large percussive Panpipe made of PVC tubes or Industrial cardboard, if available)
Ages: Grades k-up This instrument is held between the legs played with rubber padded paddles, very cool
Music Camp Lessons:
Prehispanic Instruments, Guitar(s), Recorder for Beginner/ Intermediate, Harmonica & Ukelele.
Artist-in-Residence Programs
This is a program designed by you and I.
- Varying lengths of Residencies (a few days to a few weeks)
- Interactive Performance (Instrumental techniques, composition & performance techniques)
- Instrument Making (see above for suggestions, although other instruments are possible)
- Food, Customs, Language, Geography and Culture Story Telling
- Science of Sound
Concerts:
The group, MEXIKA presents several programs: Ancient Mexico, Navidad en Aztlan and Collaborations ranging from World, Traditional to Avant-Garde or Experimental even collaborations with chamber ensemble or orchestra.
ALSO: Recording Session Artist, Composer and National/International Concerts and Family Events/Ceremonies