Teaching

Jerry Leake is on the faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music where he teaches private lessons in world percussion, and advanced rhythm theory to drummers and non-drummers. His method of teaching African and Indian rhythm systems involves a 3-tiered process of moving/stepping to the beat while wearing ankle bells, playing counter stick patterns, and reciting drum compositions/rhythm scales and singing traditional songs. Using his groundbreaking book Relating Sound & Time the results have produced transforming results for all of his students, allowing one to practice rhythmic invention at any time without the need of a primary instrument. The student IS the instrument! At NEC, Jerry directs a West African drumming and singing ensemble that specializes in Ewe music from Coastal Ghana. He is also in demand for lectures and performances in other world music classes taught by sitarist Peter Row and Turkish music specialist, Robert Labaree.

Jerry teaches Ewe drumming and singing in the Continuing Education Division of NEC, with students of all backgrounds taught the fundamentals and essentials of African music. Jerry directs a 6-day rhythm theory summer seminar at the New England Conservatory as part of the Intercultural Institute founded by Robert Labaree. "World Rhythm Boot Camp" has been well received by musicians, scholars, teachers and dancers. In 2007 he co-taught the seminar with his wife and dancer Lisa Leake.

Jerry is substitute teacher for Jamey Haddad at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he specializes in frame drum studies in the lap-style of Glen Velez. South Indian rhythm systems are incorporated for learning a variety of cycles and styles on African tar, Egyptian riq, and Moroccan bendir, as well as alternate set-up classes for exploring unique instrument and sound combinations. Jerry is also on the faculty of the New School of Music in Cambridge, MA where he teaches world percussion and rhythm theory.

Jerry has been a guest lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, University of Southern Maine, Gordon College, Salem State College, Boston University, University of Amherst, North Hampton College, Dartmouth University, MIT, Harvard University, Holy Cross College, Boston College, Bowdoin College, ME; Emerson College, master class with Bob Becker (NEC), ongoing lectures at Boston University with Peter Row; Wellesely College in tabla and kathak dance accompaniment with Gretchen Hayden. In Chennai, India at Sri Jaya Ganesh Tala Vadya Vidyalaya School of Karnatak music; Kalekshetra Dance Foundation; two-day workshop and performance (sponsored by the U.S. Consulate) with the National Folklore Support Center and the Tamil theatre group "Koothu-p-Pattarai." Program included live 2 hour radio performance of solo percussion.

Jerry teaches private lessons out of his home in Boston and is available to receive new students at any proficiency level.

In addition to his current library of 8 world percussion books Jerry has written numerous articles for Percussive Notes Magazine: a quarterly newsletter published by the Percussive Arts Society.