Back to Basics

I had the most awesome experience last week! I had the opportunity to travel down to San Antonio, TX to help my friend Nina Rodriguez with her Unlock The Rhythm program. She invited me to play djembe, along with her and Joey Gonzales, in an event for the San Antonio ISD. The experience for me was life changing! Seeing the joy that the drums and rhythm give to individuals is very gratifying. I am truly blessed to be able to play drums for a living. Nina pointed out to me that I was smiling ear to ear during the whole show! I was having sooooooooo much fun! I really love playing.

For a long time, I had forgotten how much I loved playing. It's funny, because I never stopped, but I had allowed other things in my life take over the passion that I have for the drum. I guess you can say that the rhythm had slowed down or stopped within me. This trip released that dormant beat within me though! I guess I didn't know I was going down there to "Unlock The Rhythm!" I even had the privilege to have a private lesson with percussion great Fausto Cuevas. He is a graduate of Berklee College of music, master teacher and currently touring with Stevie Wonder. I can't even begin to tell you how this changed my life! For a long time, I was just playing a lot without someone better than me teaching me what I was doing well or doing wrong. I had hit a ceiling in my development. But let me tell you, the ceiling exploded after this lesson! He took me back to the basics. He put me back on the right road to the next level. My hunger for getting better has been unleashed. I am determined to be the best God has called me to be!

I want to thank Nina for the invitation to play with her and the urging of me coming early to meet with Fausto. My life will never be the same!

Darius