Professional Projects and Achievements

• Michael Pluznick is an acclaimed and accomplished percussionist, teacher, performer, and music producer originally from New Jersey, who has traveled the world performing, recording, and teaching various forms of percussion. He has studied drums and percussion on numerous trips with master drummers in Brazil, West Africa, Cuba, India, and Puerto Rico.
• He has been drumming since the late ‘60s, and teaching for many years. His teaching credits include stints at Sonoma State University in CA where he was a teacher and guest lecturer, University of California at Santa Cruz, and Yamaha, Japan as well as countless studios and dance and drum learning spaces around the globe.
• His album “Rhythm Harvest” was in Billboard’s “Top 20” albums for two months, and his  “Where The Rain is Born” won top honors in Electronic Musician Magazine. Michael now produces various forms of African music for special events, productions, and performances. He also accompanies dance classes and performs locally and globally.
• When not traveling to teach or study, Michael’s home base is Miami, FL
• Michael has been working with Wula Drum as Chief Marketing executive, and has taught at the Wula Drum and Dance retreat for several summers
• His new projects include his subscription drum courses,  teaching globally through online video platforms, and in person at drumming schools in Thailand, Maine, and Florida.
• Michael has over 15 million YouTube channel views and 1,000 videos of classes, projects, performances, and more

Michael Has Studied With:

• Bolokada Conde: West African drumming
• Mohamed Camara: West African drumming
• M’Bemba Bangoura: West African drumming
• Siaka Doumbia: Mali drumming
• Aruna Sidibe: Mali drumming
• Brulye Doumbia: Mali drumming
• Ami Doumbia: Mali dance
• John Amira : Afro-Haitian and Afro Cuban drumming and chants
• Nuru Dafina: Afro-Cuban music and drumming
• Simbo  Bo Shu Feng: African drumming, music, poetry, composition, and shekere construction
• Mamady Keita: West African drumming
• Karamba Diakate: West African drumming
• Ousman Soumah: West African drumming
• Mohamed Diaby: West African drumming
• Mabiba Baegne: West African dununba
• Babara Bangoura: Professional level West African drumming
• Mengue Sylla: Advanced West African drumming
• Michael Markus: Teacher training classes
• Namory Keita: Performed and studied West African drumming
• Master Bo In Lee: Thai Chi Chuan
  
• Michio Kushi: Macrobiotics and natural healing techniques and modalities
• Scott Martin: Raw foods, primal diet, original diet
• Boaz Martin: Permaculture
• Shizuko Yamamoto: Barefoot Shiatsu
• Master Oki: Oki Yoga
• Margot Van Riper: Advanced sales and marketing techniques
• Michael Hauser: Computer training

In Cuba

• Pello el Afrokán : Afro-Cuban culture,music and dance
• Alfredo Calvo: Afro-Cuban culture, drumming, music and dance
• Amado Gomez: Afro-Cuban drumming, music and dance
• Members of the groups Afro Cuba and Los Munequitos

In Brazil

• Maestro Bira: Brazilian drumming
• Maestro Marcos: Brazilian drumming

In Mali

• Brulye Doumbia: Mali style djembe
• Grand Master Aruna Sidibe: Mali style djembe and dunun
• Siaka Doumbia: Mali style djembe and dunun
• Paul Chandler: West African guitar
• Ami Doumbia: Malian traditional dance
• Lamine: Mali traditional music

Notable Performances

• Great American Music Hall: 1993 Michael Pluznick and Rhythm Harvest with Archie Bell Dancers
• Shoreline Amphitheater: 1994 Grateful Dead
• Oakland Coliseum:  Nelson Mandela Liberation Celebration
• Todd Rundgren: 1989 Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
• The Tubes: 1989 San Francisco Bay Area local gigs
• Olatunji: 1988 American Soviet Peace Walk Festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park
• Michael Narda Walden: 1996 Private parties and functions
• Amsterdam Fest 2005:  Michael Hauser Band

Dance Accompaniment

• Jazz: San Francisco State University
• Modern: San Francisco State University
• Haitian: San Francisco State University; San Francisco City College; Sonoma State University; Santa Clara State University; Third Wave Dance Studio, San Francisco
• Afro-Cuban: Dance Theatre Seven, San Francisco
• West African: Maui Dance Camp 1998 – 2004
• Santa Cruz State University: 1980 – 1982 Guest teacher
• San Francisco State University: 1979 – 1983 Accompanist for Blanche Brown’s Haitian dance class and various West African dance classes
• Rhythm and Motion Dance Studio, San Francisco: 1997 – 2007
• Marin Ballet, San Rafael: 1998 – 2000

Teaching

• Professor and Guest Lecturer at Sonoma State University
• Yamaha Music Japan
• Santa Cruz State University
• Drum In The Sun drum and dance school and retreats in Thailand, ongoing
• Wula Drum and Dance Retreat teacher and facilitator

Commercials

• Del Monte

Movies

• Poko Loko: Recorded with Jerry Garcia for Deborah Koons
• Angel Blue: With Joël Lindheimer

Radio

• KKSF Theme Song for Friday Afternoon Report

Healing Seminars

• 2002 – 2003: Co-facilitated “Rhythm Integration” workshop with Kelli Hill for participants in multiple workshops led by Donald Epstein, founder of Network Chiropractic System
• Somato-Respiratory Integration (SRI): Accompanied Donald Epstein Seminars
• Co-led Dolphin Smiles, Japanese eco-conscious tour groups and healing seminars on Maui and Oahu with Richard “Rich Life” Holland
• Team building workshops at various corporations in India and Thailand

Musical Instruments

• 1986 – 2007: Manufacturer of custom-made instruments, including shekeres and gourd drums. Collectors include Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead and legendary Brazilian drummer-percussionist Airto Moreira
• Michael Pluznick and his shekeres are featured in Mickey Hart’s book, “Drumming at the Edge of MAgic”

Notable Former Students

• Arthur Hull : World-renowned drum facilitator
• Jim Greiner: Latin Percussion (LP) company drum facilitator
• John Grinder: NLP inventor
• Daniel Fiorucci: International martial arts instructor and founder of “Baby Moves” ™

Album Credits

• Small Village 1 (1988) Michael Pluznick, Kim Atkinson and Arthur Hull
• Small Village 2 (1989) Michael Pluznick, Kim Atkinson and Arthur Hull
• Small Village 3 (1991) Michael Pluznick, Kim Atkinson and Arthur Hull
• Where the Rain Is Born (1989) Michael Pluznick Group
• Cradle of the Sun (1990) Michael Pluznick Group
• Rhythm Harvest (1992) Michael Pluznick Group
• Drummers Journey (1994) Michael Pluznick And The Small Village Ensemble
• Heat Beat (1995) Michael Pluznick
• Jam Beats (1999) Michael Pluznick
• Grooves For Gigs (1998) MIchael Pluznick
• Very Green Christmas (1997) Various Artists
• Miles Dean (1997) Michael Pluznick and Joël Lindheimer
• Nearly Human (1989) Todd Rundgren
• Perfect Match (1993) Tadamitsu Saito
• Heart of a Gypsy (1987) Govi
• Narada Collection, Vol. 4 (1993) Various Artists
• Saturday’s Rhapsody (1990) Jim Chappell
• Opafire (1990) Opafire
• Camelot Music/Narada Sampler (1993) Various Artists
• Acadia (1996) Jim Chappell
• Flashpoint (1988) Looters
• Intruding on a Silence (1988) Colin Chin
• Collection One (1990) Various Artists
• Memory & Imagination (2003) Barry Cleveland
• Rhythms of Paradise (1996) Daniel Paul
• Heart of the World (1995) Pamela Polland
• Volcano (2003) Barry Cleveland
• Desert Beach (2004) Robert Powell
• Sona Gaia – Collection One (1990) Various Artists
• Mali Masters (2006) Drum Masters of Mali (produced by Michael Pluznick)
• Young Guns (2006) Drummers of Mali (produced by Michael Pluznick)
• BoBo Music of Mali (2006) Produced by Michael Pluznick
• Di Da Di Music of Mali (2006) Produced by Michael Pluznick
• Dununba Drum and Dance Party in Guinea (2006) Produced by Michael Pluznick
• How to Play Shekere Video and DVD (2006) Produced by Michael Pluznick
• Peace is Alive (1998) – Robert Blackman D.C. Produced by Michael Pluznick
• The Wo’s (2000): Peaceful Journey
• Barabajaba (2016) Rise Up
• Tribal Revival (2003): Fantuzzi; Recorded basic tracks at Naked Drummer Studio and performed on album
• Traditional Afro Cuban Folkloric Drum and Chant CDs with Peter DeJesus

His-Story: “Highlights”

Today, Michael’s YouTube channel has over 1,000 videos he filmed and edited, with over 15 million views. Material includes hundreds of lessons in West African, Afro Cuban, and other forms of hand drumming.

His most recent projects include launching a subscription platform for learning West African and Afro Cuban drumming, and working as Wula Drum’s Chief Marketing Executive. He also teaches at the annual Wula Drum And Dance Retreat. He has taught drumming seminars in various parts of Asia, including engagements and performances in China, Thailand, and throughout India, with participation in the International Film Festival of Puna. In Thailand he and musical partner Timothy Dabrowski established the Drum in the Sun school.

2008 to Present: Member of the Hawaii-based percussion collective Barabajaba, which produced an innovative album featuring Michael Pluznick, Jesse Seymour, Peter “Pedro” de Jesus, Yagbe Onilu, Boaz Martin, and Craig Kohland, performing an interweaving of soulful grooves and vocal melodies.

2007 – Present: Continuing studies of West African and Afro Cuban folkloric musical traditions and drumming.

2006 – Present: Worked on over 12 music albums with Peter De Jesus, featuring traditional drumming and healing chants from Cuba.

2004 – 2006: Worked with various San Francisco Bay Area musicians and artists. Started work on the new Barabajaba project, and on the website drumming.com with Michael Hauser.

2006: Second trip to Mali, first trip to Guinea.

2005: Summer Tour with Fangle Group in Amsterdam, first African trip to Mali.

2004: European tour #1 with poet Nick Ostis and dancer Kelli Hill.

2003: Began video documentary production of master drummers’ workshops.

2002:  Co-produced African-related performance events and workshops on Maui.

2001 – 2002: Worked with eco-friendly Japanese tour groups on Maui as guide/health advisor.

2000: Created Maui Village Drum and Dance performance ensemble. Toured Brazil.

1999: Developed several “How to Play” percussion videos.

1998: Developed Rhythm Integration, healing movement, music and dance. Produced the Rhythm Integration video.

1997-2007: Studied shamanic healing, personal growth, and human potentiality with Megan Freeman, MFCC, and Allen Roland.

1997: Produced, performed, and wrote music for the solo album of Clarence Clemmons (Bruce Springsteen).

1996 – 2007: Studied traditional Afro-Cuban shamanic healing, divination, chants, and music with Peter “Pedro” de Jesus, known in the tradition as Obendey Omo Yesa.

1996: Played on many albums, most notably on those of Jim Chappelle and Fantuzzi, and worked on recordings with Mickey Hart and Zakir Hussain.

1995: Second trips to Cuba and Asia.

1994: Changed record labels from Narada to Well-Tempered Records.

1993: Performed with Rhythm Harvest Group, built Naked Drummer Studio #2 in San Anselmo, CA.

1992: Toured Southeast Asia.

1991: Trained with Allen Roland in self-development course.

1990: Built Naked Drummer Studio #1 in Mill Valley, CA.

1988 -1989: Began recording career. Survived San Francisco earthquake!

1987: Made saint to Orisha Obatala.

1986 – 1987: Hired as guest lecturer, then as teacher at Sonoma State University, CA and other California universities and institutions.

1985: First trip to Cuba.

1984: Taught music in Japan.

1983 – 1985: Worked for Musical Merchandise Review in advertising sales and writing special feature articles.

1983: Completed Dale Carnegie Sales Course.

1982: Graduated from New College of California with a BS in Humanities and an emphasis in Wholistic Health.

1981-2007: Began to teach drumming, starting at Haight-Ashbury Music Center in San Francisco.

1980: Co-founded Village Music and Dance Ensemble with Marian Oliker in Santa Cruz, CA.

1979: Contributing artist for East West Journal.

1979: Completed advanced courses in Shiatsu massage with Shizuko Yamamoto in Boston.

1979: Completed Oki Yoga and Do-In courses.

1979: Worked at Sanae, a macrobiotic restaurant in Boston.

1978: Attended macrobiotic cooking courses with Master Chef Hiroshi Hayashi at 7th Inn Restaurant in Boston.

1978: Completed macrobiotic course levels 1, 2, and 3 at the Kushi Institute in Boston.

1977: Attended school for acupuncture and herbs in Watertown, MA. Worked for Musical Merchandise Review.

1977: Attended Massachusetts College of Art in Boston.

1976: Attended Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to study fine arts.

1975: Graduated high school, then attended Germain School of Photography in New York City.

1973 – 1974: Completed Transcendental Meditation courses, began practicing yoga, achieved green belt in karate, and went to ice hockey camp.