Faculty Profile

Brian Rice
Lecturer in Music
Director of Samba and Afro-Cuban Percussion

Brian Rice is a highly acclaimed performer, educator, and recording artist and one of the most versatile percussionists in the Bay Area. Though best known as a specialist in Brazilian and Cuban music, he can be heard playing a multitude of styles, and his percussion playing graces over sixty recordings.

Brian Rice received his Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in percussion performance and ethnomusicology, and he has been a freelance musician since 1989, founding the bateria Samba Seattle and the Afro-Cuban Folkloric Collective, and traveling to both Cuba and Brazil for musical studies. He currently performs with Mike Marshall and Choro Famoso, Claudia Villela, Jorge Alabe and Samba Rio, Cascada de Flores, the Berkeley Choro Ensemble and Wake the Dead. He is an endorser of Latin Percussion instruments.

Overview

Samba School
Brian Rice, director

Samba students dressed in Green Shirts with their instruments.

* offered Fall and Spring quarters

To add the course, please email the instructor, or show up the first day and obtain the CRN from the instructor.

Overview

Afro-Cuban Ensemble
Brian Rice, director

* offered Winter quarter only

To add the course, please email the instructor, or show up the first day and obtain the CRN from the instructor.

The Afro-Cuban Ensemble studies and performs music from the African-derived folkloric traditions of Cuba, the instruments and techniques of the Yoruba, Bantu, Arara and Iyesa drumming, and song traditions including the bembe, batá, guiro (chekere), as well as Cuban secular music such as Rumba, La Conga, Conga Santiago. Includes an introduction to the historical and cultural context of folkloric traditions and practices in Cuba.

Course Information
  • MUS 152

  • Meets Thursdays, 2:10–4:00 pm

  • 2 units

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