Rick T

Rick is a passionate Drummer and Educator with 17 years playing experience and 4 years teaching experience. Committed to helping students have FUN while learning to make music and discover their own individual “voice” on the drum set. When Rick was 9 years old, his father played him the drum solo to Iron Butterfly's “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”; he knew he was destined to be a lifelong drummer ever since. From an early age, Rick was mesmerized by the bombastic power of Rock and Roll Drummers such as John Bonham, Keith Moon and Ginger Baker. As he progressed as a Rock player and his musical interests expanded, he found himself naturally gravitating towards Jazz and Afro-Cuban as well as traditional West African rhythms. The dynamic range, finesse and subtle possibilities within these styles challenges him to grow as a musician and keeps him coming back to his drums each day. Rick continues to learn from and be inspired by pioneers such as Babatunde Olatunji, Peter Erskine, Buddy Rich, Art Blakey, Billy Cobham, Max Roach,Elvin Jones and anyone who is able to connect to their own inner rhythm and play joyfully from their heart. Teaching Methods: Drawing upon several years of teaching experience both in the classroom and on the drumset, Rick has developed a drum curriculum designed to meet you exactly where you are in your musical journey and give you the tools necessary to expand. In every lesson Rick strives to provide a friendly, patient and positive musical experience. Rick will take beginner students on an exciting tour of the drumset, show you how to properly set up your drums, demonstrate how to tune your set to get a great sound and instruct you on how to grip the sticks properly and play a perfect stroke. All students will learn timing, basic music reading, original beats and fills, different musical styles based on student interest, 4 way limb independence, etc. Perhaps the most important lesson Rick will teach and demonstrate is to always focus on having fun while learning and developing as a musician.