| ALYCIN HAYES |
|
As the child of a theatrical family, Alycin Hayes grew up backstage at the renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada. Duke Ellington introduced her to music on her family's piano when she was just three years old. Ravi Shankar dropped by for tea with his sitar to share his insights on Indian percussion music with her when she was an impressionable 13 years of age. Since then she has spent most of her life exploring, studying and adventuring around the world. Alycin first splashed into the international press when at 15 she took an impromptu swim with the Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Elliot Trudeau. She has traveled overland through Europe, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, studied yoga in India with Swami Gitananda, watched the the sunrise over Mt. Everest, canoed through Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil's Amazon basin, danced with firewalkers in Fiji, studied capoeira in Brazil with Mestre Sombra, ridden her American Indian horse in 25 and 50 mile endurance races in Canada and the USA as well as crewing for the Canadian Equestrian Endurance team in the recent World Championship Race in Malaysia, searched for King Halle Selassie's Barbary lions in Ethiopia and recently studied Thai temple drumming while designing musical instruments for elephants in the Thailand Elephant Orchestra. Some of the many percussion instruments that Alycin plays are berimbau, bongos, shekere, ashiko, African djembe, Fijian log drum, guiro, caxixi, wooden spoons, gongs, chimes, singing bowls, hill tribe elephant bells and many other unique instruments she designed and made herself. Alycin has performed music in United States, Canada, Iceland and Thailand with a wide range of musical groups that have included African, Jazz, Celtic, Latin, Reggae, Folk, Rock and her own Original Percussion Soundscape Music. She also facilitates Inner Rhythm Sound Expression Workshops in colleges and retreats throughout North America. In August, 2007 Alycin recorded a CD with the Canadian drumming group THE RHYTHM SISTERS. She also performs her special effects percussion and vocals with her band CHIMO GYPSIES and in May, 2008 released a CD with the Florida Suwannee Rock Band PROGRESSIVE MADNESS. The Thai Elephant Orchestra will be releasing their third CD soon using some instruments that Alycin designed. Testimonials: Alycin's Music: "Very inspiring " Dinah Christie, Canada "Really a unique sound" Drumanticks Newsletter, Ontario, Canada "Thanks it was fun, fun!" Layne Redmond Florida, USA & Salvador, Brazil "Out came Alycin with a half a dozen laughing and smiling women and soon there there were scores of percussion instruments ... The energy was electric that night; The crowd was up dancing and playing, playing and dancing! " Pam Bell, Gourd Fever Magazine Alycin's Workshops: "I wanted to let you know how wonderful this week's class was. I have not had the opportunity before to play music in a comfortable, totally supportive way....it felt great! Thanks so much for your energy and enthusiasm for percussion...I learned so much." Jacqui, Gainesville, Florida. "I have met many people with technical proficiency, but they have lacked the ability to transfer that knowledge to others through appropriate teaching methods. You encouraged playfulness, experimentation and individual expression. I thought it was great " Lloyd, Gainesville, Florida, USA "I felt good being a part of it. I went home energized but relaxed. Keep doin' what you're doin'." Penny Wearne, Editor of Stones & Roses, Dorchester, ON, Canada "This was awesome." "She's the greatest." "It was fun." "I learned freedom of expression." students from Alycin's class at Santa Fe College, Gainesville, Florida “Quite simply, Alycin Hayes is a brilliant interpreter of self-expression through musical rhythms that lives within us all, perhaps dormant. Through her much sought out workshops, one is transformed into releasing personal expression without hesitation.The experience leaves you refreshed and renewed. There is a "sparkle within" that is unexplainable. It is healing. Watch and listen for her name - and her workshops, in your area. If you have a chance - go. Soon there will be a waiting list to see this marvelous woman work her magic. Alycin Hayes....musical inner rhythm expressionist. She is extraordinary." Wendy G. Prince, President of Theatre Canada Inc |
 Performing  Workshop in Canada  Children spontaneously join Alycin onstage |