A veteran Bermudian drumming teacher is making a name for himself in Cuba.

Eddie Ming, of the Rhythm Lab Drum & Percussion School in St. George's, has been awarded a teacher's diploma by the La Escuela Elemental de Musica Alejandro Garcia Caturla, in Cuba.

The diploma was awarded for his valuable contribution to the methodology of teaching percussion.

He now has several workshops and recitals in Cuba planned for this winter at three different schools including the La Escuela Elemental de Musica Alejandro Garcia Caturla, Cuba Escuela National de Musica and The Superior Institute for the Arts (ISA). He is also going to produce a percussion and jazz concert at Havana's Casa de la Cultura de la Plaza.

Mr. Ming first caught the eye of Cuban educators last year when he took a group of Bermudian music students to a music camp there.

"I took 28 people including students and their parents to Cuba to attend classes," said Mr. Ming. "While there I met Professor Enrique Pla."

Mr. Pla has played with the Cuban Modern Music group, the National Symphonic Orchestra, and was the drummer in the famed Cuban band 'Irekere'.

It has been said that he helped to make the batá and arará drums give a new expression to Latin jazz.

"He asked me if I would be interested in teaching at the elementary school level," said Mr. Ming. "I established myself there. Since then, I had two jazz and percussion recitals take place at the Havana's Case de la Cultura de la Plaza. It has been very successful."

His recitals were so well received that this December he will be teaching 90 workshops for Cuban students over a three-week period.

At the elementary school level, his theme will be 'Pardiddle Johnnie' which will teach the rudiments of bass to young children.

At the senior school level, his workshop will be entitled 'juxtaposition of the six stroke role' and at the university level he will be teaching 'contemporary jazz chart reading' at the Superior Institute of Arts. This workshop will include tributes to musicians such as Elvin Jones and Tony Williams.

His concert will feature a 19-year-old Cuban saxophonist called Lina Liset Saroza Manso. The recital will be a tribute to the legendary saxophonist Dexter Gordon.

"She was featured in my Latin Jazz Ensemble, when my Bermudian students were in Cuba last year," said Mr. Ming. "She is very versatile and very mature for her age. She has a lot of potential. My mission is to inspire the students and impress the directors."

He said taking part in the fast paced Cuban music scene was stimulating for him. "Teaching in Cuba inspires me in a way that makes me want to continue living in the practice route everyday. Every day is a learning day. Cuba gives you that type of energy to want to continue to explore."

He said to compete in a country with 11 million people, he had to stay current and motivated.

"In Cuba, I am just a small fry," he said. "I have to have something that is unique and creative. I have to be razor sharp."