Brian Melick
I would like to take a moment to tell you about myself.
Actively involved with music for the past thirty years, I have developed a wide range of experience as a drummer, multi hand percussionist, and as an educator.
I have been a featured artist on over 250 commercially recorded works and have been produced by major as well as independent record companies. My drumming and percussion activities have included recording and performing along with several independent, as well as major, artists and producers. Some of my major credits are as follows:
TDK Tape, General Electric, American Seating, Metro Ford, Roop Verma, George Jinda, Minu Cinelu, Jamey Haddad, Artie and Happy Traum, Scott Petito, Vinnie Martucci, Richard Crooks, Warren Burnhart, Tony Markales, Bridget Ball, Chris Shaw, Mike Jerling, Larry Coryell, Matt Smith, Cindy Cashdollar, Larry Hoppin, Josh Colow, Larry Packer, John Sebastian, Garth Hudson, Rory Block, Robbie Dupree, Nick Brignola, William Gallison, Amy Fraden and Leslie Ritter, Ed Wool, Livingston Taylor, Jorma Kaukonen, John Kirk, Diane Zeigler, Abby Newton, Ellen MclLwaine, Jerry Marotta, Layne Redmond, Tom "T-Bone" Wolk, Kim and Reggie Harris, Magpie, Pete Seeger, Ade Knowles, Ralph Gordon, Wycliff Gordon, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Laurel Masse, Eric Weissberg, Mike Marshall, Bela Fleck, Tony Levin, Cathie Ryan, Camille West, Four Bitchin Babes, Stuart Duncan, Anne Hills, Cindy Mangsen, Priscilla Herdman, Aaron Hurwitz, Dan Duggan, Peggy Lynn, Edward Villella & The Miami City Ballet, Ringling Bros. & Barnum, Bailey Circus, Hartford Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Sloan Wainwright, Mark Dann, Ronny Simkins, Sally Van Meter, Debra Dobkin, Bob Malone, Scott McPherson, Jody Grey, Paul Orpheno, Eddie Krammer, Adam Rothberg, Jeff Townsend, John Platania, Mark MacKenna, Bruce Molsky, Jeff Tyzik and many more.
Currently my performance schedule includes working with Kevin McKrell and the Hard Road Céilidh Band, a mix of Irish/Celtic/Folk/Pop/World influence; Maria Zemantauski, Flamenco / Classical Guitarist and Composer that is active both in live performance as well as education; The Bernstein Baird Ensemble, which is a wide mix of Jazz, Latin and Classical styles, Sonny Daye and Perley Rousseau, Brazilian and Jazz Styles, Celtic Harpist, Martha Gallagher, Improvisational Jazz Ensemble, TrioLOCO, Soul Session featuring R&B, Funk, Soul and Gospel, Celtic Vocalist, Cathie Ryan as well as The New York Players a high energy commercial band.
I have been recognized by my peers with endorsements from the following: Udu Drum Inc., LP Music Group (Percussion & Hardware), Remo, Inc., Calato Co., Inc., Fredrico Percussion, Rhythm Tech, Paiste Cymbals, Shakka Shakerz, Michael Thiele Hardwood Drums and Impact Cases. I play Frank Giorgini's Udu Drums exclusively. My involvement with the aforementioned companies have included workshops, performance, professional representation, product review and field testing. In 1997, Impact released a new full line of world percussion instrument cases with which I was principally involved in regards to design and size consultation.
Education has always been very important to me—both sharing and receiving. This has resulted in the formation of an educational program guide which includes group involvement workshops, lectures, master class, and individual instruction. The environment for me and my educational offerings runs the gamut—from toddler-age children to senior citizens, from day camps, schools, universities, community-based programs to working with professional music therapists and educators. The focus for me has always been to get the participants physically involved by playing the different instruments. I currently signed a licensing deal with Community Learning, a company that develops enrichment program curriculium. I have just completed a 15 week course based on my program "Making and Playing Percudssion Out of Found Objects". It includes A teachers guide, Student Workbooks, World Map and all the Materials so that up to 20 participants can make 5 percussion instruments themselves that highlight the two basic families of percussion as well as the four elements of percussion. There is a DVD so that participants can be shown 3 different rhythms and the individual steps so that they can offer a public performance. The DVD was developed in such away that the Teacher does not have to come to the class as a musician. This tool makes it possible for anyone to teach the course.
With the many opportunities that exist to create a supportive role within the music industry, I have developed and started my own commercial business. The objective of my company is to design and manufacture custom stands for percussion instruments as well as custom design work for other instruments. I have been awarded three U.S. Patents to date, with additional applications being prepared.
My current product line includes:
The "How To" of Udu, An Instructional Book/Audiophile Package and Instructional Video. DVD to soon be available as well. These outline techniques (basic to advanced) for performance on the entire family of udu drums available. The video is currently manufactured and distributed worldwide by Interworld Music, Inc. with further distribution by Warner Brothers Publishing.
Percussion Instruments made out of Found Objects, A Workbook, Audiophile, Educators and Home Schooling Parents Reference Guide, Video. DVD will soon be available. The focus of these items outline several different projects that create percussion instruments out of found objects in ones environment as well as how to use this format to explore music, science, math, and humanities etc. These products are currently being distributed directly and through several different retail stores on the Northeast.
SoftPAW™ Performance Stands
Udu Drum — Twelve different stands are designed and available to support all of the currently available Udu Drums made by either Frank Giorgini, Udu Drum, Inc. or LP Music Group.
Earth Drum — Two different size racks are designed and available to support a total of six separate Earth Drums (3 on each rack). These drums are those manufactured by RPT Studios, Troy, NY.
Through Community Learning; a 15 Week Course including all course materials for up to 20 participants in the course kit entitled "Playing with Percussion"
Solo Audio Recordings
Percussive Voices, a rhythm music-based recording which features nine compositions highlighting several different percussion instruments from around the world, from udu drums and earth drums to congas and djembe to found objects. This recording is available both in a general audio format (typical CD format) through Hudson Valley Records or a commercial / industrial sound library format through Gene Michael Productions. For commercial license, contact Gene Michael Productions directly.
Art of Udu, a tribute to the udu drum this recording currently is only available as a commercial / industrial sound library format through Gene Michael Productions. There will be a typical CD format soon released as well as individual song downloads through several different online sorces.
As a result of these accomplishments, I feel my career encompasses all the right ingredients to touch the masses. It is very important to me to pass on as many good things as I can to help share, support, encourage, and even inspire those who come into contact with me.