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Stephen Cyphers

Music / Sound, Performance

About the Artist

STEVE CYPHERS Steve has been a professional drummer, percussionist and singer since 1988. He is a founding member, singer and percussionist with the band Blue Miracle. Blue Miracle is a genre-bending Jam Band with two original albums. They have played at clubs, festivals, colleges and private events throughout the country for over three decades and still perform today. Steve also collaborates with many different bands and musicians across the region. Steve also discovered a passion for teaching children about music. Since 2010, he has been a teaching artist with Young Audiences of Maryland and a roster artist with the MSAC, combining music with curriculum to make learning fun and interesting. Steve’s electric personality and raw talent grab kids’ attention.

Stephen Cyphers website Stephen Cyphers' website

Featured Work

Photos

Head shot
This is my logo projected onto the bottom of a 3/12 gallon bucket!! This is one of the main "tools" of my trade as a teaching artist! I use buckets and mallets in my ADVENTURES IN RHYTHM assemblies and residencies. I teach the art of percussion, singing and the skills of live performance. Students/classes become "a band," for the length of my residency. Students learn the basic elements of music (pitch, tone, tempo, duration), learn about the history, geography and even the science behind the magic of drums and percussion. I begin my residency with an exciting, informative assembly, and we end our experience with a culminating performance to show off your students newfound knowledge, confidence and skill. see: www.stephencyphers.com for more!

Booking

Booking Price: $500-$1,000

Stephen Cyphers
website: https://www.stephencyphers.com
email: steve@stephencyphers.com
phone: 301-518-3258
YOUNG AUDIENCES OF MARYLAND
Website: https://www.YAMD.org
email:info@YAMD.org
phone: 410-837-7757

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Arts in Education

Audiences Types: Grades Pre-K – 2, Grades 3-5, Middle School (6-8 grade), High School (9-12 grade), Educators

Adventures in Rhythm – RESIDENCY (pre-K – 8th grade)
The Adventures in Rhythm Residency delves deeper into the origins and evolution of percussion. It provides an opportunity for students to discover old and new instruments from many different cultures. The bongos, congas, timbales, djembe, dumbek, vibraslap, claves, woodblocks and drum-set are some of the instruments used in his program. While exploring the different ways they produce sound, Steve teaches and reinforces the elements of music in fun and creative ways. Students form a “Bucket Band” and use mallets to play rhythms and perform songs alone and as a group. This residency is a great introduction to what it is like to learn an instrument and to be a productive and creative member of a band. Students learn valuable lessons in teamwork, respect, self-control and the rewards of practice. A culminating performance gives students a chance to demonstrate the skills they have learned.

Adventures in Rhythm – ASSEMBLY (pre-K – 8th grade)
The Adventures in Rhythm Assembly is an interactive performance by the Steve Cyphers Trio. Steve plays the drum-set, bongos, congas, timbales, cowbells and more, accompanied by a bass player and guitarist. This assembly explores the evolution of percussion from the earliest instruments like the African log drum to the modern drum set and many in between. Students sing, chant, clap, stomp and even play with the band on stage.

Students learn about the origins and evolution of these instruments and the different ways they vibrate to make sound. Steve teaches the basic elements of music along the way. This includes instruction on pitch, tone, tempo and duration. The band introduces many different rhythms and styles of music, performing songs from African chants to James Brown, Santana, Stevie Wonder and more. Students (and staff) enjoy a concert-like experience while learning and having fun!