Jeff Stewart

My Bliss is to devote my life to facilitating Music Circles.

Currently Jeff is facilitating “The Spirit of World Drumming Circles” for music educators and drumming enthusiasts of all ages. He promotes the Spirit & Health Benefits of Drumming and continues to show that there are no barriers of age, culture and ability to participate in drum circles.

Jeff is a dedicated educator who facilitates drum circles in his community and at several music festivals, such as the Northern Lights Festival/Summerfest/Sault Ste Marie Echoes Drum Festival, Celtic Fest, Muhtadi International Drum Festival, Calgary International Reggae Fest. He has also facilitated drum circles and clinics for the Rainbow Public School Board Music Task Force, Laurentian Hospital Rehab Center, Laurentian University Music/Education/International Student Association, College Boreal, ICAN, Crisis Intervention Annual Conference, AIDS Awareness Conference, Mental Health Awareness, International Science Center Conference, Ontario Music Educators Association Conferences and at PASIC 2012.
Freelance Work

Besides being a prominent music educator and clinician Jeff also performs professionally. For the past 12 years Jeff has led his own jazz ensemble “Solar Jazz Ensemble”. This group has performed at various functions and music festivals. Jeff has also been the primary drummer/percussionist for the Mauricio Montecinos Latin Band and has performed at a variety of music festivals in Ontario, CBC live radio and television sessions. Since 1994 Jeff has performed on live television for the CTV Lions Club Telethon as permanent percussionist in the house band. Currently Jeff is a percussion accompanist with the Sudbury Earth Dancers advance classes and performs with the Nickel City Dixie Stompers.

Education

Bachelor of Education, Nipissing University
Bachelor of Arts, Major: Music (percussion/jazz) Laurentian University
Humber College of Applied Arts, Music Performance (percussion major)

Village Music Circles Certified Drum Circle Facilitator
Developmental Community Music certified facilitator (1st in Canada)

Jeff Stewart has also studied privately with legendary drummers/percussionists such as Doug Sole - Soul Drums (Drum Circle mentor), Christine Stevens - UpBeat Drums (Drum Circle mentor), Famoudou Konate, Saikou Saho, Paul DeLong, Rick Gratton, Memo Acevedo (currently teaching at New York University of Music), Roger Flock and Don Vickery (Humber College), Jack Broumpton (Laurentian University), Tony Azzopardi, Rick Lazar (Montuno Police, The Samba Squad, Toronto), Ed Thigpen (Oscar Peterson, Oliver Jones), Arthur Hull (Pioneer of community drum circles), Kalani (Drum Circle Music Guru).