1. You become genuinely interested.

2. You pursue your interest spontaneously.

3. You practice until you see improvement.

4. You stick with the practice until the new skill is mastered.

 

As a young man I was driven to reach as far as I could with drumming. My first drumming influences were Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. I saw Buddy's band as well as Kenton, Herman, Thad Jones / Mel Lewis, Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severerson, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Louie Bellson, Billy Cobham and more. I studied drums with Joe Hunt and Gary Chaffee at Berklee College and took private lessons with  Fred Buda, Gene Roma, Alan Dawson and Joe Morello. I practiced (and still practice) hours every day.

 

By the way, these guys all have/ had one thing in common. They all have / had their own style, sound and their own vision. They also learned their methods directly from the players who invented it and worked at their craft every day for constant and never ending improvement. 

 

As musicians we must be careful. In the absence of a vision, our energy can be funneled into supporting old habits and closed beliefs. Talent that is inside our soul can be wasted. The musicians listed above were geniuses who knew /  know how to maximize their soul's potential.

 

Every day it is up to us to convert our soul's energy into the meaning of our lives. One way or another, if you allow, your style is going to turn into just you. It is going to support the vision you have for yourself, IF you make that choice.

 

I have learned from some of the greatest musicians and philosophers of our time. I hope to inspire and pass the torch to everyone who passes through my doorway. Please contact me to schedule a lesson and be the drummer you want to be.