I grew up in Richmond, VA and have been playing drums ever since I was about two or three years old. I also found a love for the piano at a young age as well. I took piano lessons throughout grade school and also through most of middle school. I don’t really consider my self a pianist/keyboardist, it’s something I love to just sit back and play (and make some midi tunes) if I’m not playing drums. My first drum teacher was my dad. My dad plays drums as well, so as a little kid I loved to sit at his drum sets and play, even if my feet couldn’t reach the peddles. It wasn’t until 5th grade when I moved to Libertyville, IL that I started to take drum lessons. When I first started taking lessons, I couldn’t have started with a better drum teacher than Glenn Kotche, who is now in the band Wilco. After Glenn left I took from Jim Barclay, then from David Skidmore, Clay Condon, and now from Michael Kozakis. I am also taking music theory and aural skills classes at school. Naming influences has always been tough since there are so many…Dennis Chambers, Glenn Kotche, Steve Gadd, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Gavin Harrison, Mike Portnoy…the list goes on. Throughout my life I have gone through many different (if not all) genre stages leaving me now with a full-enjoyment and appreciation for every type of music.
gear:
Tama Starclassic Maple: 22”x20” BD, 10x9,12x10,14x12,16x14 TT’s, 14”x6” Pearl Chad Smith Model SD, 10”x6” Mapex Maple Black Panther SD
22” WUHAN China, 20” Zildjian K Custom Medium Ride, 17” Zildjian A Medium Thin Crash, 18” Sabian HHXtreme Crash, 10” Sabian HH Duo Splash, 14” Sabian AA Regular Hats
college: Carthage College, a small liberal arts school in Wisconsin
Future plans: A transfer to somewhere in the city of Chicago is likely.
Whether or not I get a degree in music, I plan on playing and “doing” music the rest of my life. It’s too much fun to not do so. |
