As far as drums are concerned, I began my drumming career in the 9th grade, fall of 1991 when I joined the Mandarins Drum & Bugle Corps. There, I played bass drum (1992 season), tenors (1996), and snare (1993-1995, 1998). During my membership, the Mandarins won three Division III World Championships (1992, ‘96, ‘98), a number of High Percussion honors, and earned DCI member corps status for the first time in 1996. I have also played drumset in pop, rock and jazz bands in Sacramento. Other instruments I play or have played are piano, clarinet, oboe, and basic guitar and bass.

I began teaching drumlines in the fall of 1995 with the CK McClatchy Marching Band, where I taught for 9 years and also began a composition and arranging career. I have also served as percussion caption head for the Lincoln, Union Mine, Orestimba, and Center High School drumlines. I am currently the percussion caption head for Inderkum High School, working with Noah Clark at West Campus High School (2008 NCBA Winter Percussion Novice Champion), and giving private drum lessons. As an active composer, I compose and arrange for pitched instruments and percussion ensembles.

My latest drumming/business adventure is the formation of PiNdrop Music Design, where Noah and I specialize in original music with an emphasis in percussion.

Teaching Philosophies
In a nutshell:

• Each student, group, environment, and situation is different. A good teacher adapts while still able to promote his or her core philosophies, concepts, and methods.
• A good musician is also responsible and acts with class.
• Potential is nothing. Use of potential is something. Potential energy is nothing until it becomes kinetic energy.
• Teach first, tech second, instruct third. Education is the priority. Good drumming is 50% mental, 50% physical.
• Good technique must be promoted. It prevents detrimental harm while promoting natural use of the body.
• Basics rule. No building should be built without a solid foundation, and often that foundation must be tended to.
• When teaching, universal truths must be spoken, knowing that there are always exceptions to the rules that are explained.
• When teaching, say what you mean and mean what you say.