Styles

Afro Cuban, West African, Latin Percussion, Brazilian, Afro Peruvian, Vallenato, Middle Eastern, Rock, Jazz, Reggae, Classical, Latin Rock.

Bio

Dominic Garcia began playing drums at the age of seven. By 1991 after being in Marching, Jazz and Concert band as well as being a founding member of the Sacramento group, Deftones, Garcia began on a lifelong journey of study in world beat and percussion. In 1994 he began studying conga with Eddie Diaz, a New York percussionist with a list of performance credits ranging from Tito Allen, to Yomo Toro. By 1996, he became a member of the Afro-Cuban dance group Ebo Okokan. Under the instruction of Harold Muniz and Beatriz Godinez, he learned to play an array of Afro-Cuban drum, song, and dance. Dominic continues to perform with Ebo Okokan. By 2000, Dominic was involved in a variety of music projects, recording and arranging. In 2005, be became a student at C.S.U. Sacramento under the direction of Stephen Blumberg and Dr. Daniel Kennedy. There, he double majored in Music Theory & Composition, Percussion Studies, and plans to continue his studies in Ethnomusicology. Garcia also has performed and recorded with the Sacramento State Latin Jazz ensemble for which the group had received a Downbeat award for their performance and 2008 recording entitled, “Havana”. Dominic is also musical director of Latin American folk group, Paloma Negra. In 2007, Paloma Negra released a full length cd entitled “En Otros Ojos”. In 2008, Paloma Negra was invited to perform in Monterrey, Mexico presenting repertoire for Dia de Muertos. In 2010, Garcia was commissioned to record and produce Paloma Negra’s second released entitled “Altar”. In addition, he also recorded and co produced Sacramento based, Latin Jazz group, self tilted Cd, “La Descarga”. Today, Garcia resides in his native Sacramento, California. He is currently a freelance artist and clinician in Latin music.

Method

For the modern percussionist, versatility is a necessity to stay competitive in today’s music industry. Dominic offers a variety of hand drumming lessons involving traditional and non-traditional rhythms. In addition to his lessons, Dominic elaborates on the history and folkloric aspects of the traditional. At the same time, he focuses on developing proper technique in hand drumming. No student leaves a lesson without learning something new. Sign up for a free consultation/lesson to see what you can learn from him.