Short (100 words)
Kalani Das, MT-BC is a world percussion specialist with more than 30 years of professional experience. He is a certified Orff-Schulwerk educator, a board-certified music therapist. Kalani has worked with music legends Barry Manilow, Yanni, Kenny Loggins, and Rod Stuart. He is the founder of the DCM approach to community music making and teaches online courses for Vandercook College of Music. Kalani has written numerous books and produces two podcasts and the WORLD DRUM CLUB YouTube channel. He presents workshops, retreats, and residencies and can be contacted through kalanimusic.com and playsinglaugh.com.
Long (250 words)
Kalani Das is a board-certified music therapist, professional percussionist, and certified Orff-Schulwerk music educator. As a performing and recording artist, he has worked with music legends Rod Stewart, Kenny Loggins, Barry Manilow, Max Roach, John Mayall, Yanni, Benise, Suzanne Cianni, and appears on numerous soundtracks for both TV and Film. He has written over nine books, produced seven DVDs, and released three music CDs. He is the author of the book, The Way of Music – creating sounds connections in music therapy (Sarsen publishing).
Kalani has presented sessions, CMTEs, and Institutes at several AMTA conferences, including the Western regional, Great Lakes regional, and National. He has also presented at state, regional, and national conferences for the National Association for Music Education, the Percussive Arts Society, and the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. Kalani travels both nationally and internationally, presenting training programs, residencies, and workshops within the fields of music therapy, music education and music-related professions.
Kalani is the founder of the Developmental Community Music approach to music-centered wellness (playsinglaugh.com), co-author of the Music Therapy Drumming curriculum and MTD Trainer (musictherapydrumming.com), and creator of the Hula for Life wellness program for older adults (hulaforlife.net).
His work in music therapy includes adults in addiction recovery, persons with TBI, and adults with developmental disabilities. He is currently music therapist and fieldwork supervisor at the Tierra Del Sol Foundation, an adult day facility that provides educational and employment opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities.
For more information visit Kalani’s business website (kalanimusic.com) and his personal site (kalanidas.com).
Presenter Introduction
Kalani is a board-certified music therapist, orff-schulwerk music educator, and performing artist who has worked with such legends as Rod Stuart, Barry Manilow, Yanni, and Kenny Loggins. He is a prolific author with numerous publications, including books, music CDs, and video programs. He is the founder of the Developmental Community Music approach to facilitating music-based experiences, a Music Therapy Drumming instructor, and a consultant and clinician for several musical instrument manufacturers and publishers. Kalani has won numerous awards for his work, both locally and internationally, and continues to develop new material for professionals in music-related fields.
FULL BIO
With over 30 years of professional experience in a variety of fields, Kalani’s work honors past traditions while expanding the fields of music education, music therapy, and professional and personal development. Kalani began his professional career at the age of 15, playing in several Bay Area bands. After graduating from California State University Northridge with a degree in Music performance in 1986, he went on to work with legendary drummer Max Roach eventually returning to LA to tour with Vic Damone in 1990. In 1991 Kalani was invited to tour with Multi-Platinum recording artist, Yanni, performing on the widely acclaimed ‘Live at the Acropolis’ video which sold over seven million copies world-wide. Kalani has also toured nationally and internationally with Barry Manilow, Suzanne Cianni, Benise, and a host of other artists. As a percussionist, Kalani has played on CDs and soundtracks for the Nature Company, Jim Hensen Records, Paramount Pictures, Sony Records, Tri-Star, Disney, Warner Brothers, and others. Recently, Kalani played on on Rod Stewart’s latest CD, Fly Me to the Moon.
Kalani has written and produced over 20 instructional products, including videos, CDs, books, and online lessons (workshoplive.com). His Book and DVD, Together in Rhythm, won the esteemed iParenting Media award and he has been honored with more than seven DRUM! Magazine Readers’ Poll Awards, including Best Rock/Pop Percussionist, Best Percussion Clinician, Best Percussion Method Book, and Best Drumming Facilitator. Kalani has produced four original music CDs, Pangea, Insights, Origins, and his latest release, Rhythm Spirit. He has designed a series of specialty sticks and mallets for the Vic Firth Company, including the first ever hand drumming gloves.
Kalani is the creator of Developmental Community Music (DCM), a holistic approach to facilitating creative potential through music and movement. He presents events and training courses in the US and abroad each year. (playsinglaugh.com). In 2001, Kalani began a long-time collaboration with Master Drummer, Ryan Camara, which produced the World Rhythms Arts Program (WRAP) and the mutli-media book, West African Drum & Dance. Kalani has presented for organizations including the International Music Products Association, The American Music Therapy Association, The National Association for Music Educators, The American Orff-Schulwerk Association, The Percussive Arts Society, The Victoria Orff-Schulwerk Association, and many state and regional conferences. He created the Hula for Life program for older adults, which features the dance, songs, and music of Hawaii (hulaforlife.net).
Kalani is the co-author of the Music Makers program, an original curriculum for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He is a certified Orff-Schulwerk (Music and Movement for Children) Practitioner with many years of teaching experience, both in schools and community settings. Kalani is a Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) and currently provides music therapy services in the Los Angeles area. His book, The Way of Music, examines how improvisation may be developed and used within clinical music therapy.
