What can I tell you about me that you'd actually want to know?
Well, I'm a Drummer (but you probably figured that out already...)
I started playing Classical percussion when I was 9, which gave me the opportunity to learn a modest amount of music theory and how to play a variety of different percussion instruments - Tympani, Chimes, Xylophone, etc. Surprisingly, I really didn't get around to learning to play a kit until almost a decade later. It just didn't interest me much during this phase.
For drum kit playing, I'm technically self taught. I started teaching myself by using the theory I'd previously learned - transcribing what I heard, then playing through the transcription. It worked quite well and to this day I still use the "from transcription to performance" method for learning new tunes. Once I'd gotten that process down, I started jamming along to my stereo with bands like Nazareth, Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Metallica, Steve Miller, Supertramp, Whitesnake, Kansas and whatever else happened to be on the radio that I could get into.
My kit playing style now draws on and reflects a lot of the different influences I've been exposed to over the years, but is primarily a Rock and Blues base. I still have occasional "Symphonic outbursts" that show up in additional parts for songs I'm working on - the Tympani/Tubular Bells parts of Prince of Joy that I worked on with ChaiVat is a perfect example. My projects have ranged from sitting in with some local Irish/Celtic acts, "Fill In" gigs with a friend's 60's/70's cover band, and playing in a few different bands with styles ranging from Blues and Classic Rock, to Folk, Pop and a few others that kind of defy classification.
I love playing and am always up for meeting new musicians and chatting with other drummers about everything from gear to techniques and playing styles. So much so that for several years myself and a core group of other like minded people were running the on-line drummer's community HotDrum. I do occasionally frequent a few on-line communities as I have the time, so feel free to flag me down and say 'Hey!' if you see me "Oot and Aboot".
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