Name: Deric Dickens

From: Moultrie, Georgia

Few people know that I… secretly have always wanted to be a graphic designer and visual artist. My overseas music tours are mostly fueled by my need to visit museums! Oh, and to play killer music all over the world.

Education: BA-Music Ed, Valdosta State University; MA-Percussion Performance, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; MA-Entrepreneurship in the Arts, Purchase College (currently)

I play and teach: Drums, percussion

Personal Teaching Statement: I’m committed to educating and facilitating creativity in and through the arts by providing hands-on learning in a collaborative space regardless of age, gender identity, income, or talent. My goal is to have young artists play and learn together very early in the process. This group play adds excitement, listening skills and collaboration so that we are able to start adding prompts for group improvisation and creative music making. My values for myself and my students include community and inclusion, creative problem solving, improvisation and collaboration.

Biography: Deric Dickens is a Brooklyn-based percussionist and composer. After growing up in Southern Georgia, Deric worked as a band director, taught drum and bugle corps, and played as a principal timpanist with local orchestras and symphonies. But it was the ride cymbal; a friend had asked him to play at a jazz session, which changed everything. Since, Deric has toured and recorded with Robinella (Columbia Records), Daniel Carter, Donald Brown, Jaimie Branch, John Ralston, Russ Lossing, Caroline Davis and Brad Linde, and has worked on soundtracks for James Schamus’ “Indignation,” D.W. Young’s “Too Cold to Swim,” as well as many other indie films and television projects. Deric has forged many long term musical relationships and has been a founding member of bands such as Brad Linde’s Team Players, DAD’s, Dix Out, John Ralston, Urbane Outfit and Arms Bent Thrice, a graphic score ensemble. He has performed at major venues throughout North America, Europe and Asia and currently leads his groups Speed Date, Rocket #9, The Dickens Campaign, Left Bomb Bay, and co-leads Arabic for Beginners, Zero Point with Marius Duboule and Daniel Carter, and Big Trouble with Eva Novoa.