Arts & Entertainment, Music
Meet Your Instructor
Lesson time 07:04 min
Groundbreaking drummer and percussionist Sheila E. welcomes you to her class and shares some of the defining moments from her upbringing that launched her career as a professional musician.
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Topics include: Sheila E. Teaches Drumming and Percussion
Teaches Drumming and Percussion
Legendary drummer Sheila E. welcomes you to the world of percussion and teaches you how to express yourself through rhythm.
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[00:00:00.00] [00:00:04.45] [00:00:10.87] - Our next performer is a top percussionist who has played for Prince, George Duke, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and myself amongst others. Just wait till you see Sheila E! [00:00:24.61] [00:00:26.09] [00:00:30.52] SHEILA E (VOICEOVER): My purpose is music. It's my passion. It's my life. [00:00:34.69] [00:00:39.98] I don't think I had a choice other than to be a percussion player. Through my experience of ups and downs has come great success, confidence, power, beauty, love. [00:00:52.34] [00:00:56.81] And when you figure out what your passion is, no one and nothing can stand in your way. [00:01:05.50] I know that I'm the baddest drummer out. And once I get on stage, it's my house. Nobody can mess with me. [00:01:14.37] [JAZZ MUSIC] [00:01:32.92] SHEILA E: I grew up in Oakland, California-- I think one of the best places to be born because of music. My dad at the beginning saw that I was interested in music. And I think I was maybe nine years old. He said to me, why don't you go play violin instead of like, playing congas and percussion? And I looked at him like, violin, are you kidding me? That is so corny. [00:02:07.31] My dad is the legendary Pete Escovedo, Latin percussionist, who is known as the Mexican Frank Sinatra. He's won numerous awards. And he plays all over the world. And he's a fantastic timbale player and the best-dressed timbale player. [00:02:27.44] Growing up, there were celebrities coming to the house, like Tito Puente, Carlos Santana, Eddie Palmieri, and Mongo Santamaria. And I just took it in and soaked it in and just, like, wow, look at them playing. That sounds amazing. Wow, that's incredible. And I think that was the great part of my parents bringing in different genres of music. They wanted us to learn everything. [00:02:54.20] [JAZZ MUSIC] [00:02:57.35] My dad had a band called Azteca. And they were signed to CBS. And they were opening for The Temptations and Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire. And his other percussion player got sick. So I said, come on, daddy, let me play. I know all the songs. And he said, yeah, no, you're 15. No, you can't do it. I said, come on, please. I know all the songs. No, no, no, you can't. [00:03:22.58] So I went to my mom, and I said, moms, daddy won' t let me play. She went and spoke with him, and I was able to play. So I played the show, San Francisco. You're thinking, okay, no big deal. I know my dad's music. However, this is now a 18-piece band with adults that the musicianship, the level was like way up here. And I had to rise to the occasion. [00:03:47.83] I didn't realize like how intense it was going to be. So we started playing. And next thing I know, my dad turned to me, and he looked. I was on this side. He looked, and he said, I want you to take a solo. He's playing. He's like, go take a solo. I'm like, a solo? Okay. All of a sudden, I didn't even...
About the Instructor
Raised in a family of musicians, Sheila E. has collaborated with icons like Marvin Gaye and Ringo Starr and was named one of the all-time greatest drummers by Rolling Stone. Now she teaches you how to find your rhythm. Learn the principles of percussion—with or without a drum set—and discover techniques for dynamic solos and fills. Jam with the Escovedo family and find your own groove, as a beginner or as a bandleader.
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Sheila E.
Legendary drummer Sheila E. welcomes you to the world of percussion and teaches you how to express yourself through rhythm.
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