Percussion with Sam W.

Born and raised near Charleston, West Virginia and educated in New York, Boston, and New Orleans, Sam W. has confronted and absorbed just about every variation of American music there is—and then some for good measure. He has shared the stage with the likes of Ellis Marsalis, James Singleton (John Scofield, Joe Henderson), and Steve Masakowski (Allen Toussaint, Bobby McFerrin). Country music, Steely Dan, and nineties rock coaxed his ears early on, and Sam quickly became a first call drummer in his hometown before moving to NYC, infected by a curiosity for jazz and contemporary music. At the celebrated Drummer's Collective veterans of the music industry bestowed upon Sam incomparable technical training and a glimpse of the highest level of professionalism. Sam received private instruction from Ian Froman (John Abercrombie, Dave Holland) and Peter Retzlaff (Kenny Werner, Greg Osby) and met many of the world's up and coming drummers. Sam then pursued (and acquired) his Bachelor's degree at the Berklee College of Music, soaking up the wisdom of such jazz greats as Joe Lovano, Teri Lyne Carrington, and Dave Samuels. Determined to get as much playing experience as possible, Sam headed south to New Orleans. While gigging constantly in and around the Crescent City, Sam studied at the University of New Orleans with Ed Petersen (Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie), Brian Seeger, Steve Masakowski (Astral Project), Victor Atkins, and Troy Davis (Ahmad Jamal). Equipped with a Master's Degree in Music, an endorsement with Canopus Drums (Brian Blade), and a lifetime of gigging experience, Sam continues to record and gig in New Orleans and up and down the East Coast with acts like Brad Walker, Magnitude, Andrew Duhon, and Georgi Petrov. *** Lesson Details *** I specialize in teaching drum set technique and musicianship skills that apply to all genres of music. *** Studio Equipment *** drumset, practice pad, drum sticks *** Travel Equipment *** drumset, practice pad, drum sticks *** Specialties *** snare drum/ drum set technique, reading music, Generes: jazz, rock, country, funk