About Erasmo
Erasmo Rodriguez-Castaneda is an accomplished concert percussionist, rudimental percussionist, jazz piano player, and composer. He’s been involved with several programs within the DCI and Indoor Drumline community such as Yamato Drum and Bugle Corps 2002-2005, Black Knights 2006, and RCC marching and winter percussion under the direction of Scott Johnson & Jeff Lee in 2002, and Sean Vega & Jim Wunderlich in 2003. Aside from his involvement in the DCI and indoor drumline community, Mr. Rodriguez is also in demand as a performer with various professional Symphony orchestras and Jazz ensembles in Southern California.
Erasmo Rodriguez’s musical compositions have been played by marching bands, wind ensembles, and indoor percussion ensembles, including orchestrations and sequencing projects for media, and musical theatre in the United States and Japan. Erasmo is a percussion and jazz adjudicator for the Southern California Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) and a member of the Vic-Firth Education Team.
Erasmo has had the privilege of learning from many influential teachers such as Bill Cunliffe (Jazz Arranging/Composition), Steven Schmidt (Percussion), Bob Dominguez (Drum Set), Gerard Gutter (Jazz Piano), Joel Paat (Jazz Piano), Lloyd Rodgers (Composition), Nick Stout (Timpani), Steven Riddley (Composition).
As an educator,
Mr. Rodriguez has taught music at all levels throughout Southern California as well as Mexico, Taiwan, and Japan for over 15 years. This includes teaching percussion, jazz ensemble, wind ensemble, orchestra, marching band, and even drum and bugle corps as well as private lessons.
Mr. Rodriguez currently serves as the director of instrumental music at San Marcos High School, in San Marcos, California, and prior, taught at Heritage High School in Menifee, CA, and Prospect High School in Saratoga. Mr. Rodriguez also taught at Diamond Bar High School (winners of the National Orchestra Competition in New York) and Yorba Linda Middle School (one of the top middle school Jazz programs in Southern California) while earning his credential at California State University Fullerton.
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Erasmo’s Experience
Philosophy
One of my main focus is on musicianship, well-roundedness, but mostly on the lifelong meaningful experiences and values, we acquire by just being involved in making music. It is too often that we see programs
focusing (while having the “heart in the right place,” ) on the wrong things. This is one of the pressing issues with very competitive music programs especially when dealing with the marching element. Often these schools
focus on a trophy, and yet, our students often lack the necessary music literacy skills. In today’s socio-economic and political climate, competition turns into the “game of haves and have-nots.” Therefore, competition should not be the catalyst, but well-rounded music education instead.
My goal is to make sure that every single student I encounter turns to appreciate and love music for the rest of their lives. There is countless research that now shows the great benefits of music education, but in the end, as a music teacher, it takes ONE PERSON, which should be ME, to make a difference in a child’s life. I had the same experiences when I was young and is now my turn to make sure I am that person who will influence students’ lives so that when they grow, they appreciate and become future music-loving, performance goers, and advocates.