Grooves & Brews Recap

WELL…. what an amazing turnout this afternoon for our end of summer party! Thank you to all who could attend. The students have been working hard on their material and it showed today with some really terrific (and rocking!) individual performances. There were quite a few students that came out to enjoy the afternoon and support their peers and that was also great to see.

In addition, we had a powerful djembe performance from our djembe teacher, Paco Samb, who gave us a preview of what the studio’s monthly djembe sessions are.

Finally, we had the debut performance of Ten N’ a Half, led by grooveKSQ student Evan R.

Thank you to Blondes and Brewnettes Brewing Co. for working with us on this event.

Our Fall programming announcements will be following soon!

Jazz Trio Workshop Recap!

Yesterday’s Jazz Trio Workshop was a GREAT afternoon. We were joined by Kyle Hancock (guitar) and Sarah Renz (bass), who gave the students their perspectives on small ensemble playing and specifically what they look for in drummers.

There is no faster way to improve than by playing with working professionals.

Be sure to subscribe to the studio’s YouTube channel as the videos from this event will be posted this week. Below is a quick video featuring longtime member Thomas Linderman working out a version of John Coltrane’s Giant Steps with a 5/4 twist on it.

Nate Smith Drum Clinic Recap

There is nothing more gratifying than when a plan comes together and things run smoothly. This afternoon, a very enthusiastic group of drummers got a front row seat to a true professional operating at the highest level of the percussion activity - Nate Smith.

Nate was gracious with his time and answered as many questions as time would allow. He performed several solo pieces he wrote for drumset, all of which had clearly defined song structures and conceptual progressions. He played with expert dynamic control and precision. He imparted some very practical, actionable advice about being a professional. It was a GREAT day.

Nate Smith takes the audience on a rhythmic journey….

Special thanks to Zildjian Cymbals, Evans drumheads, Vic Firth drumsticks for their awesome promotional support. Also special thanks to James Boruch for lending the drums from his personal collection for today’s event, and Dan Ciccone and Logan Ritterbeck for helping on the set up and sound engineering.

Nate Smith Drum Clinic Sunday, May 21st!

Nate Smith is a drummer, composer, & producer from Chesapeake, Virginia. His visceral, instinctive, and deep-rooted style of drumming has led to three GRAMMY® nominations and work with esteemed artists, including: Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Brittany Howard, Van Hunt, The Fearless Flyers, Norah Jones, and Somi. Smith fuses his original compositions with an eclectic mix of music, including everything from jazz to R&B to hip-hop to pop.

GrooveFEST Recap

Yesterday was one of the best events the studio has ever had. All of the performers were terrific and the turnout and support from the students’ families and friends was incredible as well.

We heard many different musical genres, from classic rock to country, from jazz to funk and an original composition on drumset to cap off the afternoon.

Video content will follow this week, and below is a gallery of photos from the event. Congratulations to all of our student performers!

Announcing the grooveKSQ 3 Day Practice Challenge!

Announcing the groove 3 Day Practice Challenge! This is a livestream series on the studio’s YouTube channel that will broadcast Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (June 28, 29 & 30) at 2:00pm eastern. These videos are going to be short (less than 15 minutes), designed for intermediate students to help reinforce the idea of daily and intentional practice. You can join live or you can watch them after the livestream.

I strongly encourage you all to go to the YouTube channel and subscribe, as we are going to use that heavily over the summer.