Dive Into Music At Workshops

Hawaii Music Institute’s upcoming educational series, Music Workshops 2014, could move aspiring musicians one step closer to forming their own bands.

The modern drum set is the instrument of choice at this Friday’s workshop, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hale Akoakoa 105 on the Windward Community College campus. The workshop will be led by Noel Okimoto, an award-winning jazz drummer and orchestral percussionist. He has performed with Woody Herman Orchestra, Sadao Watanabe, Rosemary Clooney and Jake Shimabukuro, among many others.

Slack key guitar rises to the forefront at the May 30 workshop, when the father-and-son duo of Ron and Pomaika’i Loo will conduct in a 10 a.m. to noon session in Hale Palanakila 104 at WCC. The workshop focuses on open G tuning and the tablature method’s effects on chords and lyrics of traditional song.

A longtime instructor at the college, Ron Loo is a kumu mele and slack key master trained by Hawaiian greats including Uncle Johnny Almeida, Gabby Pahinui and Aunty Alice Namakelua.

Fee for each workshop is $20, and attendees must register in advance by calling 235-7433 or visiting in person the Office of Career & Community

Education in Hale Kuhina.

More information on both programs is available at the website windwardcce.org/music.

The workshops are sponsored by the institute and Ke Kumu Pali.