news

Introducing Groove Central

Members Only!

This is the next step in the studio’s evolution: Groove Central - an online collection of video lessons, the new online home of Virtual Vinyl, production tutorials, and a whole lot more. This content will only appear in Groove Central and nowhere else. PLUS, GC members will be able to read my upcoming book The Way of the Drum, as it is being written and evolving over time.

For $5/month, GC Members get access to the online content, PLUS deep discounts on live events (i.e our djembe workshops and guest drum clinics).

CURRENT STUDENTS: Join GC, and you will get a $5 credit on your monthly lesson invoices so this is no additional cost to you.

Groove Central
$5.00
Every month

Groove Central is the studio's members-only online space which features written and video content that does not appear anywhere else.

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You Can Now Schedule Directly Through the Website

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The website has some terrific new functionality - current students can now schedule their makeup lessons directly through the website! No more texting and emailing back and forth.

All you have to do:

  1. CLICK HERE to go to https://www.grooveksq.com/scheduling;

  2. Select Makeup Lesson (Current Students Only);

  3. Choose an available time. That’s it! It’s super easy.

Once you select your time slot, we will both get email notifications.

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In Person Lessons to Resume June 6th

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Very pleased to announce that in person lessons will resume Saturday, June 6th. The studio will be cleaned (again!) and we will observe the following protocols:

  1. Masks are REQUIRED of students and any family members to enter the studio. No exceptions.

  2. Social distancing will be observed.

  3. No handshakes, fistbumps, etc. Peace signs or shaka signs are encouraged however.

  4. Students should make sure they have their own sticks. We will not need headphones because all the practice tracks will played through the PA.

  5. If you have a fever, or have any symptoms, please do not come in. We will make arrangements to provide a credit or video lessons.

If students or parents are uncomfortable with in person lessons, that is totally respected, and we can continue by video. There are some significant upgrades to the studio happening in the next two weeks to enhance our ability to deliver education over video.

There will be a separate announcement about Virtual Vinyl, the Summer Groovefest, and related activities coming soon.

(PS…this announcement assumes that Chester County is moved to the Yellow Phase by June 5th as the Governor’s office previously announced).

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All About the May grooveKSQ Schedule...

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For a teaching studio and live events producer, the current crisis has presented some real challenges. Lessons have transitioned to an online format temporarily, as have some of our other events. Around this time of year, we are typically preparing for the student grooveFEST performances. Of course, these are tough decisions to make, but everyone’s safety comes first.

For the month of May, here is what is happening:

Rhythm & Words is postponed. This event was designed to be live, in front of an audience. To move this particular event online would do a disservice to the performers and to the audience. I absolutely LOVE this performance concept and it will happen, but it will be presented in its optimal format when the conditions allow.

grooveFEST is postponed. For the same reasons. The educational benefit to the students is from the experience of live performance. Moving that event online would likewise not serve its chief purpose - to educate (and celebrate) the students. As soon as we can hold that event live, we will. Stay tuned.

Tuesday Night Vinyl has become Virtual Vinyl. This is an example of an event that can be transitioned online and still accomplish most of its mission. There is no real substitute for having everyone in the same room, BUT, I think that going forward when live events can resume, we will keep a component of this where people can participate remotely. This month’s event is scheduled for Sunday, May 24th, 7:00pm via Zoom. Please email me for the login information. Good headphones highly recommended!!!

Thank you for your continued support, we will all get through this situation together.

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This Is Your Brain On Drums: Clinical Study Reveals How Playing Drums Increases Brain Development

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This Is Your Brain On Drums: Clinical Study Reveals How Playing Drums Increases Brain Development

A recent article caught our attention, and that was a clinical study of the enhancements in brain activity and development of drummers. Yes, drummers specifically were studied, rather than all musicians. Typically you see a more generalized study group from across all instruments.

To paraphrase the conclusion of the study, students who are trained drummers from an early age develop more communication structures across the corpus callosum, which is the structure that separates the right and left hemispheres of the brain. The right side of your brain tends to control your artistic and creative ability, and your left side of your brain controls your analytical ability. Drummers who start training early can more effectively simultaneously engage both their right side and left sides of their brains across the board.