I was introduced to the arts at a very early age. My mother gave me my father's harmonica around the age of four-years old. At that same age, I began drawing pictures by crayon, and then switched to ink pen. Drawing was my art until by the age of twelve I became interested in percussion from watching classmates practice their sticking technique on the cafeteria tables during their lunch period. The next year I enrolled into beginning band and quickly increased my talents to catch-up with my classmates by the next year.

I furthered my studies in music at Emporia State University in Emporia, KS. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1998, and a Master of Music degree in 2001. While in college, I performed with the Kansas Intercollegiate Jazz Ensemble and a Latin-rock band that toured throughout the eastern and southern area of Kansas and northern area of Oklahoma.

In 2002, I moved to San Diego, California to experience more worldly styles of music. I began teaching in...

Hi! My name is Tanner. I've been playing music since I was at least 5 years old. I've been drumming for 11 years and teaching for 7 years. I've had students from 5 to 42 years old. I love to teach music because I love seeing other people get excited about music!


I was classically-trained in percussion, and even performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. I've been playing drums for my own bands since as early as junior high. In high school, I was co-captain of my school's drum line, and was awarded Most Outstanding Percussionist.


After high school, I continued to form my own groups playing drums and other instruments, and have even been hired by others as a session drummer. I've played with lots of different kinds of groups over the years, played gigs and toured all up and down the West Coast. As far as drum set goes, I can play all styles (rock, metal, drum line/school band, progressive, punk, funk, hip hop, blues, jazz, etc.).

Music has been a part of my life since I was 10. I was first introduced to percussion in marching band, starting out in drumline, and playing tenor drums and then snare drum. I continued playing the marching snare drum through high school and also professionally in division 1 drum and bugle corps. While at the same time I had acquired my own drumset and began to apply the skills learned on a snare drum over to drumset. I feel that having a marching snare drum background has more fully equipped me to play more skillfully on drumset. I have had many years of taking private lessons which has helped to not only encourage and inspire me, but has also provided a more personal approach to me learning the drums. I am currently playing drumset and making music with a local band here in San Diego.

Music has been my number one passion since childhood. It was in third grade that I discovered the snare drum in music class, and I knew there was no turning back. At the young age of 7 I had already decided that I wanted to be a teacher. My passion for drumming grew stronger as the years went on, and I was constantly searching for new challenges to conquer. Relocating to San Diego contributed to this as it introduced me to a huge constantly evolving music scene.

I'm currently obtaining my associates in music at Mesa College. I have been performing professionally and teaching around southern California for close to ten years. I've worked as a session drummer and recorded several albums and EP's for a number of bands. I co-managed San Diego Drum Shop with Jon Oren in 2011 to early 2012. I now play for a hand full of groups ranging from bluegrass and jazz to rock. When I'm not behind my kit, you can find me painting, cycling or enjoying almost any other physical outdoor activity.

With twenty five years as a professional musician and teacher, my experience has taught me that building a strong foundation, with a focus on musical and skill fundamentals, is the key to the success of students fulfilling their musical dreams.
Often I get students who come to me frustrated with their lack of progress. While teaching them songs they wanted to learn, their former teachers failed to provide the basic skills needed for continued progress. Once these basic skill were integrated into their lesson plan, the roadblocks preventing their progress were removed and students became more motivated and excited.
My musical experience and education include:
Twenty Five years as a professional musician and teacher
An AA degree in Musical Performance from Grossmont College
Grossmont College Guitar Ensemble
A former member of the United States Marine Corps Band
Three time superior rating in the San Diego Solo and Ensemble festival
Featured artist on two albums of...

Not only do I love chess and running marathons, but I also have three degrees in drums and percussion (Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate). I have ten years experience as a performer (including playing drums on a GRAMMY nominated album) with orchestras, touring big bands (Jimmy Dorsey, Five-By-Design), professional productions (Carnival Cruise Lines, amusement parks), jazz artists, and rock bands. I have also toured solo as a classical marimbist. Although I have a strong foundation in rudimental and jazz drumming, I also have roots in West African drumming, Cuban and Brazilian styles, and polka.

I have taught percussion lessons, percussion classes for band directors, jazz ensembles, percussion ensembles, and drum lines at Kansas State University, The University of Southern Mississippi, The University of Wisconsin Stout, and dozens of high schools. I love all things percussion related, including the history of the instruments and their performance techniques.

Although I was...

I'm Dale! 23 years old from San Antonio TX. I started playing drums when I was 7 years old, playing bongos during church. I marched on my high school's line all 4 years of school (snare two years, tenors two years) and marched a season of DCI indoor drumline in San Antonio. Since then I've been in numerous bands in Texas, recorded multiple EP's and played hundreds of venues including the White Rabbit in San Antonio, Texas, The Vibe in Austin, Texas, to The House of Blues on Sunset Blvd. I have a passion to the drumline/drum corps approach to drumming, since most of my speed, technique and endurance came from marching, but also appreciate and love every style on the drum kit. I am currently studying for my Associates of Arts in Performance for Percussion at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA.

As far back as I can remember, music has been a central part of my life. I grew up in a musical family; my father a drummer and pianist, my mother a woodwinds player, and my brother a bassist, I have been surrounded by music as far back as I can recall.

In 3rd grade, I remember seeing a brass quintet play at my elementary school auditorium. This was the moment I knew the trumpet was for me! From 3rd grade to my senior year in high school, I took private lessons and played in the top groups on trumpet and percussion - eventually achieving such awards as "Best Soloist at a College Jazz Festival" and "Musician of the Year at San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts." Upon graduating from San Diego SCPA in 2005, I became interested in recording and audio engineering – eventually working as a 2nd engineer at Signature Sound in Clairemont, and main engineer at Proxy Music in Oceanside. This afforded me the opportunity to work with some of San Diego’s finest musicians...

I truly enjoy teaching and have many years of experience teaching students of all levels and ages.

I try to teach my students how important it is to listen to themselves play. When appropriate, I bring a guitar or bass (depending on the student's need) and help the student learn how drums relate to the rest of the music. I want all of my students to enjoy playing and want them to have music as a tool for life: one that helps them express themselves, think creatively, learn specific and technical skills, and grow as humans. I believe that all people can benefit from learning to play an instrument. If you or your child believe that music can provide a new way to find meaning and joy in life while learning a valuable skill, please contact me.

In addition, I have successfully taught many students who have had trouble in school due to lack of motivation and/or learning disabilities. Drum/percussion lessons have reawakened these discouraged students' desire to learn and I am happy...