The all-day event includes music workshops, master classes and performances from Pete Escovedo, Jeff Narell, Ed Roscetti and others.

Blair Helsing, president of the California Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, says the day is designed to provide the community with music education.

"Almost all music has the element of percussion in it -- it's the basis of basically all music," Helsing said. "There's always a need for percussion-based musicians."

From the exotic -- unusual percussive instruments found in music from Java and Bali -- to the more common steel drums, hand bells and Latin percussion, the day showcases a variety of percussive instruments.

"We're endeavoring to present a wide spectrum as we can, and to expose people to music that they've probably never heard of before," Helsing said.

Depending on the nature of a workshop and each individual's skill level, participants may bring their own or use some of the instruments provided. The workshops offer the chance to work with the best teachers in the Bay Area at a price almost everyone can afford, Helsing said.

Among the events: an interactive clinic led by Latin jazz legend Escovedo; a clinic on musicality with studio percussionist Roscetti; a performance by youth percussion ensemble We Got The Beat; an interactive workshop with music educator and performer E. W. Wainwright; a performance by Gamelan Sekar Jaya; clinic and performance by hand bell artist Michele Sharik; drum set clinic with Andrew Griffin; and a steel drum jazz concert by Narell's Caribbean Jazz Quartet.

Instruments will be raffled. Children are welcome to attend the festivities, sponsored by the nonprofit Percussive Arts Society, an international organization. Founded in 1961, the group promotes percussion education, research, performance and appreciation.

The Alice Arts Center is at 1428 Alice St. in downtown Oakland. Admission is $10 adults, $7 students. All workshops are included in the cost.

For more information call (415) 296-0454, visit www.pas.org or e-mail blairh@well.com.

Oakland Tribune: Bay Area Living
Catherine Schutz, Features Editor
(925) 416-4856
(925) 416-4874 Fax
cschutz@angnewspapers.com