♪♪ ♪♪ -I think the cajón, for example, serve, I think, as a bridge between peoples.

And that's something that's central to music.

-Muchas gracias.

-[Narrator] Hector Morales is an Afro-Peruvian music percussionist, drummer, and a much loved teaching artist.

He was born and raised in Lima, Peru, and came to the U.S. as a college student to study jazz at William Paterson University.

[ Percussion ] -I'm a percussionist, but my two main instruments are the cajón, which is the box drum, which is the main instrument in the music of the coast of Peru.

It's an instrument of Afro-Peruvian music.

And then the drum set, which was the instrument that brought me here, actually, to America, 'cause I fell in love with jazz at some point.

[ Drumming ] I think my father is one of the most important people in me becoming a musician.

Although he was not a musician, he will always play music, and particularly music from the coast of Peru -- criolla music.

♪♪ That was the music that filled my space, especially in the car, because in those days, you could not choose what was going to be played.

♪♪ I am also a teaching artist, which is something I didn't know existed, or that you could be, until somebody when they called me and say, "Hey, we need somebody to come and teach Latin percussion in school in the Bronx."

I have no idea, I say, "Okay."

-[Narrator] One of the places Hector teaches is the Institute of Music for Children in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Alysia Souder is the institute's director.

-He's so much more than just someone who teaches kids how to drum.

He's really just one of the most dedicated, intentional teachers who's able to connect with children of all abilities.

-One more time.

And together.

-Mister Hector is a really nice man.

Always happy.

Always gives us a smile.

What I like about the class is that when we hit the drums, and it gives a satisfying sound.

I just love that.

[ Drumming ] Mr. Hector is the best type of drummer in history, I think, and I love the way that he always smiles.

And he always, he always brings joy to me.

-Right?

-It would always be like, I'm walking by and I'm like, "What's Mr. Hector doing?"

Or I'd always see him with like, the congas and the jawbones and all, like everything.

And it sounds amazing.

-I'm going to play your beat, but then I'm going to change it.

I'm going to start doing something else.

Are you going to follow me?

No, don't follow me.

You stay with the main beat.

-[Mullings] He always likes to include people.

Like if somebody is slacking or just not in a good mood, he always finds a way to bring them up and uplift them through the music.

[ Percussion ] -Hey!

[ Percussion ] Okay.

Sounding nice, sounding nice.

♪♪ -[Narrator] Longtime friend and colleague Naomi Sturm-Wijesinghe invited Hector to co-teach one of her classes at the New School.

It's called Global Music and Dance Tradition -- Peru.

-Hector, I've known for 20 years.

Very close colleague of mine, amazing person, and he comes to the course and he teaches the students about Afro-Peruvian music, the cajón instrument.

And this year we were able to have an event here at Terraza 7, which is a very important space here in Jackson Heights, Queens, where the students will actually join Hector at a gig that he has.

So it kind of comes full circle.

♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Terraza 7 is also a very special venue I think it's a core or the center of Latin American culture in New York.

♪♪ That's what music does naturally.

Bring people together.

It's almost like an invisible magic that happens, you know, and I don't even need to do much, you know, as long as I let the music take over.

♪♪ ♪♪