Hello there! My name is Rufus and I am eager to start teaching you how to play to the very best of your ability. I have 43 years of rudimentary drum experience to share which will help you play like a pro! In a very short amount of time, you will learn the basics and begin to find your own rhythm as a drummer...let me show you how!

Performing Experience:
• Musician in Mystic Sheiks of Morocco, Rock a Doo Whop, Christmas Show at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
• Tutored in South America, Europe and Canada over 20 yrs.
• Drummer for New Salem M.B Church for last 15 yrs.
• 4 yrs marching in the Florida A&M University Marching Band & Percussion Ensemble
• 43 yrs of rudimentary drumming.

Audio:Specialize in digital audio work station software – Cubase 6.5 – Wavelab 7 and Waves plug-ins.

Recording Background:
Owner of a home based recording studio.

True Love- collection of pop music (2012)

Lift Off - A high energy dance song.(2012)

The Spencer Project - a...

My Background in Music:

My inspiration first started when I was seven years old and in second grade. I was pondering if I wanted to dedicate myself to the music field. A substitute piano teacher came in that day and played and my admiration decided me to pursue this ambition for my life work. I studied and played guitar and autoharp as a child because of our lack of piano. The guitar was a gift and I played it for years and studied vocal music throughout school. When I was a young teenager I started playing with a group that I met in a barn and I was thrilled. I played in groups and studied privately with such greats as Michelle Barone Horsefield as well as with Don Hales. I trained with studio musicians such as the Scott Steeleman Studio and continued playing for my friends and family as well as various organizations.

Education:

When I was a little older I started studying at the Community Music School at Capital University in Columbus Ohio. I studies with Joan Hall...

I have my degree from The Eastman School of Music and have played rock and roll for decades. My joy is bringing people to music and music playing. As Music is an infinite language it has always been an eternal joy to teach and relate to my beloved students what music can say to them and what they can convey to others.

Evan is a music composer, producer, performer and sound designer currently living in the Tampa Bay area. His music spans across many genres, mediums and styles ranging from contemporary classical music, to hip-hop instrumentals to pop and film music. Evan graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Music Composition and Electronic Music.

Joshua picked up his first set of sticks at 10 years old, beginning lessons with his father; this seemingly young interest took a turn for devoted passion and appreciation of rhythm and music. He is versatile drummer with more than 15 years of experience in different styles.

Joshua attended Florida State University and studied Jazz under Leon Anderson as well as advanced studies at The University of South Florida under Dave Via. He has had the opportunity to play with several local musicians such as Marcus Hampton, Mike Gibilsco, Kevin Wilder and many others.

Joshua brings something unique to the table with a background in Jazz and passion for teaching!

I had my first piano lesson when I was five years old. I performed my first piano solos for audiences at school events. I joined the keyboard team at church when I was thirteen years old. I quickly learned to improvise and accompany. It was exciting to discover that I could study piano in college. I earned my way by accompanying voice and instrument choirs, rehearsals, lessons, and recitals. I enjoy helping other people excel, so I chose a teaching degree over a performance degree.

In 1991, I graduated with my bachelor of music degree in piano pedagogy. I immediately began teaching private and group piano lessons, building my studio over thirteen years to reach more than 800 students ages five to seventy-five. I continued to accompany community choirs, local vocal artists, and student performing on other instruments. I was called as a substitute for church choir directors and accompanists. I was employed as a music director and organist for seven years.

In 2004, my...

Have you always wanted to learn how to play an instrument, but never knew where to begin? I can help you learn your instrument, and learn how to play the music that you love whether it be flute, piccolo, violin, viola, or cello. I can help you enjoy music.

Having grown up in a musical family with my mother a professional violinist, I have been exposed to the joys of music since childhood. I learned how to play percussion and string instruments from when I was six years old, and later joined the high school band playing flute. I loved playing flute and piccolo so much that I decided to take this as my career and went to Interlochen Arts Academy where I excellent in my performance. I later went to Prague Conservatory and Czech Budweiss Conservatory and played with the Prague Film Orchestra. Even more recently I have been a teacher for the Flutes and Strings classes at Unison World School in Dehradun, India.

As you can see, having great international exposure to music I...

At the ripe age of 8 years, I began a musical journey that over the past 37 years has afforded me the chance to work with a series of outstanding mentors. In retrospect, I can appreciate how each and every one of them fostered whatever innate abilities they recognized in me and graciously helped me develop my musical skills. Today, I am fortunate to work as a professional musician and educator--and I am grateful to be able to "give back" to other aspiring and realized musicians. I value the opportunity to share my experiences from the stage, the studio, and the classroom to help each individual student realize her or his personal music goals.

I earned a B.A. in rhetoric with a concentration in music theory from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and I enjoyed my undergraduate experience so much, I chose to stay for my graduate studies. I continued to perform regionally and also taught public speaking at both U.Va. and Piedmont Community College while concurrently...

Joe, a Blues Rocker at heart, who began teaching music in 1975, at Farrington's Music Center in Princeton, N.J., is now the owner of Ace Guitar and Vocal Studio, and Director of RockShop Music School, both located in St. Petersburg, Fl. since 1998.

Joe has logged many years of professional performance experience with musical groups of all kinds.

In addition to a stint in the 90's as Orchestral Guitarist aboard "The Monarch of the Seas" with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Joe served as Musical Director in 2001 for a Tampa, Fl. production of "Hair", and as Guitarist with numerous Broadway Show road companies such as "The Bernadette Peters Show," "Hello Dolly", and "A Chorus Line." Joe continues to serve the St. Petersburg area as a music instructor in addition to performing.

I started playing guitar at the age of 12, teaching myself before I moved on to taking professional lessons. At 15, I began performing in front of live audiences with a rock band, and loved every minute of it. Ever since then, I have been performing and recording, as well as writing/arranging music. I was privately tutored extensively in Music Theory, Harmony, Arrangement and Composition. I have played many stages over the years in various cover and original bands, from acoustic to rock, to blues, metal and southern rock. I feel that I can offer much from the viewpoint of a working musician in addition to your basic instrument lesson; from instrument set-up tips, to getting your own sound, to how to effectively use effects and performance tips. Personally, I enjoy rock and metal music from the 50's to present day, and I am a big fan of shred/lead-guitar oriented music. I also personally study and enjoy a lot of classical/medieval/rennaissance music styles. As of Dec. 2011, I am...

Nicole began her musical journey in Long Island, New York when she began piano lessons at age five. While receiving training on piano, she joined her elementary school orchestra in the 3rd grade and quickly soared with violin. During this period, Nicole began learning music theory and the art of reading music. As a fourth grader, Nicole would go on to conduct and tune every instrument in her orchestra during rehearsal. She always competed and won many NYSMA competitions for violin while attending music seminars and workshops. It was then that her teacher realized she had a gift. Nicole continued with piano lessons and began teaching herself guitar. Later, after college, she bought herself a drum set and began to teach herself drums.
As an adult, Nicole studied to become an elementary teacher and worked in the New York State School Districts for over five years. Shortly after receiving her master’s degree for Literacy Education, Nicole decided to attempt to share her...

Jim has been playing drums since he was fourteen years old and has been performing professionally for over fifty years. He has cut a record as the drummer for Lawrence Welk, played with Lionel Hampton, auditioned and accepted as a contestant for the Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour (pre Star Search), and has appeared several times on the Washington, D.C, version of American Bandstand. He has also had the opportunity of judging drum competitions for Sam Ash Music Stores.

Jim graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. Over the years, Jim has organized and performed in all types of bands – jazz, rock, country, and military while teaching young drummers. He currently plays with the band Triple Distilled.