Stephen G
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Drums, Bass Guitar, Double Bass, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Conga, Latin Percussion, Keyboard, Djembe
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Salsa, Showtunes, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk
Stephen G
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Drums, Bass Guitar, Double Bass, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Conga, Latin Percussion, Keyboard, Djembe
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Salsa, Showtunes, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, New Age, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
I began private lessons at The Eastman School Of Music at the age of 6 and studied under the direction of John Beck for 12 years. I then graduated from Los Angeles Music Academy in 2003. There I studied under Ralph Humphrey, Joe Pocaro, Sherman Ferguson, Mike Shapiro and others.
1.Graduated Los Angeles Music Academy in 2003 2. Recorded with Brian Welch (korn), Edie brickel, Paul Simon and Dion (New York is My Home on his Stranger to Stranger album), John Tropea , Mika Stoltzman, Richard Stoltzman, Eddie Gomez and many other local musicians from across the United States. 3. Performed at Carnegie Hall with Chic Corea and the Mikarimba Band in 2013 and 2015. 4. Toured Japan alongside my father Drummer Steve Gadd and toured both Egypt and Japan with The Mikarimba Band. Toured the State's with a group called Buckets and Tap Shoes and other local musicians. 5. Played live with Chic Corea, Chuck Mangione, Paul Simon, Mike Landau, Jimmy Johnson, Walt Fowler, Papa and Joey Defrancesco, Rey Reandau, Dan Tomlinson, Eddie Gomez, John Tropea just to name a few. 6. Have taught privately and held Clinics at Long Island Drum Center, San Diego Rock and Roll School and in Tijuana Mexico.
There's nothing better than seeing the face of a student light up when they've learned something I've showed them that they weren't able to play before. Music is my life, I've been playing drums for as long as I can remember - it all started on pots and pans. I'm very passionate about music and take it very seriously but I do like to have fun along the way. My father plays drums as well, that is what inspired and motivated me to play. I started taking lessons at 5 years old. I took private lessons at Eastman school of music in Rochester, NY. I graduated high school and then headed to California to attend the Los Angeles Music Academy for the Drum Program where I graduated and earned my Degree in Music in 2003. I started playing piano at 9 years old and took private lessons from Andy Calabrese for 3 years. I started playing guitar and bass at 16 years old, I'm mostly self-taught but have studied extensively on my own and can read tabs, etc. My first paid show was when I was 9 years old and got to play percussion for Chuck Mangione. I made $200 and I was hooked. I knew this what I had to be doing. I've toured the united stated with Buckets and tap Shoes and other artists, toured Japan in 2012 and was given the opportunity to play at the famous Blue Note, Body and Soul and other jazz clubs. I've toured Egypt as well, playing with The Mikarimba Band for Ciaro Jazz Festival in 2013. I've played Carnegie Hall with Chic Corea and The Mikarimba Band. I've opened up for Kid Kudi, Beck , Gary Clark Jr and many more at the Mcdowell Mt. Music Festival in Arizona playing with The Gus Campbell Band. I've recorded with Paul Simon and Dion (New York is My Home Stranger to Stranger album), Brian Welch (Head 2 Christ Project), Edie Brickel (Gaddabouts 3rd album 2014) and John Tropea (2014) just to name a few. Other than playing I love to share music and what I've learned with people of all ages. I've given private lessons for 10 years, and held clinics, summer camps and private lessons at the San Diego Rock and Roll School and at the Long Island Drum Center in NY. I love helping people learn to do things they thought they never could. My view is - Music as a craft should not be a competition, it's not about being better than someone else, we're all in this world together and we can all learn from each other. I look forward to partnering with you to reach your musical goals!
My teaching experience goes back to middle school. I didn't get paid for it but I would teach the drummers their part the ensembles and performances in the orchestra and jazz band. That way the teacher could focus on instructing the other students the different instruments. I started booking regular paid gigs after college. I would perform shows and people would ask for lessons after the gig, networking is a big part of the professional side of playing music I encourage listening to all styles of music. As a teacher, I encourage habitual practice, playing in school bands, finding local musicians to play with and throwing on headphones and playing to your favorite tunes. I encourage my students to go after the impossible and dream big - because anything is possible with ambition and dedication.
My go-to books for Drummers, beginners and advanced are 1. Advanced technique for the modern drummer by Jim Chapin and 2. Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone. No matter what you listen to, the material in these books can be applied to any style. Another tip is to learn what influenced your favorite players. I Guarantee every one of your favorite drummers has studied this book. It contains beginner techniques through the most prominent advanced skills. My curriculum focuses on coordination/independence of your limbs and getting each limb to play a different groove, rudiments and applying them to the drum set. I'll go through all the styles of music to get the player comfortable in any musical situation while having a blast along the way.
I love to see my students face light up and smile when they finally get a pattern on the drums they were having a hard time with. Every student of mine receives a tailor-made curriculum based on their abilities. If there's a performance for the school jazz or orchestra band I can assist with homework. If not I encourage my students to perform in musical programs in and out of school. With every skill comes discipline, devotion, and passion. I'll show my student the roots of drumming as well establish the influences that influenced our favorite musicians. I go over rudiments and applying them to the drum kit for all genres of music and grooves, stick control, technique, coordination/independence, drum fills, reading music and I also encourage my student play along with a tune of there choice or mine to get a feel for popular rhythms and tempos.
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