Aaron has been performing and recording professionally for fourteen years and has been teaching privately for eleven. He brings to his teaching a rich and varied background in performance - ranging in venues from small night clubs to 10,000 seat concert halls; and in recording, convening styles that include jazz, rock, blues, funk, Latin and avant-garde. His teaching focuses on snare drum and drum sets.

Snare Drum: Beginner to Advanced/All Ages
For the school concert and marching band snare drummer, Aaron helps students develop effective and relaxed techniques learn to apply the rudiments, and sharpen reading skills and interpretive prowess. His objective with all snare drum students is to develop the ability to master any snare drum composition - whether for marching band, concert band, district/regional/all-state band competitions or percussion ensembles. The snare drum student is also encouraged to compose his or her own snare drum piece.

Drum Set: Beginner to Advanced/Vocational to Professional/All Ages
The focus is first on good technique - proper grip, form, and motion. Second, the focus is on four-way coordination and independence (the ability of hands and feet to play at different patterns simultaneously). Understanding a wide range of genres including rock, blues, jazz, funk, Latin, Afro-Cuban and Caribbean grooves is the third focus. Fourth, focus is on chart and transcription reading and writing and fifth, on creativity and experimentation. Emphasis on each of these areas will of course vary depending on the students' goals and level of skill and experience. Continuous attention is given throughout to the development of good time keeping and critical listening.

Additional Teaching Information:
Students perform at least twice a year (March and November) in recitals given at Drums Etc. These recitals provide an opportunity to demonstrate musical skills and growth and to experience the thrill of performing before a live audience typically made up of family, friends, and drum enthusiasts.

School age students are encouraged to participate in school concert, marching, jazz bands or church ensembles and worship groups or with their own bands or projects. Adult students are encouraged to play in church bands, participate in area club jam sessions, or to form or join a band to apply their skills and knowledge. At a minimum, all students are asked to play along regularly with recordings of their favorite artists, songs, and styles.

As students study, work, practice, perform, and begin to grow in technical skill, musical understanding, creativity, and confidence they will experience the bottom line reason for playing any instrument: HAVING FUN!!! Great fun requires great discipline and focus, but it is well worth the effort.

Aaron Walker Education:

• BA in Speech Communication, Penn Sate University 1987
• Public School marching and concert bands, orchestras and jazz ensembles
• Classical piano private studies with Paya Palchuk, Lancaster Conservatory of Music
• Private drum set study with:
  • Clyde Lucas (Count Basie, Ray Charles, Illinois Jaquet)
  • Joe Morelle (Dave Brubaker Quartet)
  • Zoro (Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson, Bobby Brown)
  • Robert Brosh (Philadelphia University of Arts, Drums Squared)

Defender (classic, original and hard rock)
Plywood Jungle (classic rock and new wave covers. Winner 1992 Starview 92 Battle of the Bands)
Burning Bus (critically acclaimed original band. Voted #1 World Beat band in the mid Atlantic region)

In addition, Aaron served in the drum chair for the legendary Tom Larsen band, touring and recording actively for three years (98-01) along the east coast. He has also been a guest/session drummer for many of this region's acts, including the Inca Campers, Matrix, Pillars of Society, In Transit, Mystery Jazz trio, Jim Trostle Trio, Tom Ponz Trio, CoCo & Company, Extremity, Animation, Young Gun Blues Band, Tino Gonzales, Chris Whittaker Trio, Reach Around Rodeo Clowns, Geist, King Bees, New Life Orchestra, Silver Wood & Ivory, Yard Dawgz, Red Herring & First Trumpet. More recently, Aaron was honored as a guest drummer for 50's rock legend Charlie Gracie (cited by Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Graham Nash and other British invasion giants as a major influence on their careers).

During his "tours of duty" with Defender, Plywood Jungle, Burning Bus and Tom Larsen, Aaron has had the privilege of opening for national and international acts including: Sting, Dave Matthews Band, Natalie Merchant, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Dave Mason, Johnny Lang, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Mark Farmer (Grand Funk Railroad), Poi Dog Pondering, Kix, Brave Combo, Huffamouse, Healing Sixes (with Jason Bonham, son of late John Bonham, drummer for Led Zeppelin)

Recordings:

In addition to these title, Aaron has co-produced and/or recorded commercial jingles, demos, P.S.A tracks and documentary sound tracks (including work on the Emmy award-winning soundtrack for the PBS documentary series: "People Who Must").

Current Activities:
Aaron currently holds the drum chair and is co-composer with the Reese Project, a Grammy nominated jazz group in South Central PA. The group is playing regularly throughout the mid-Atlantic/ Northeast regions and maintains an active recording clinic/seminar schedule. For more information, check the web at www.wyndfallrecord.com

When time allows, Aaron still performs with other groups such as Mystery Jazz Trio, Inca Campers and DC. & Co. and is recording currently as sideman with Jim Stanson, Matt Montizchio and Todd Appel on separate projects.

For more information or to inquire about lessons, master classes or clinics, call 717-464-8932 or Drums, Etc at 717-394-3786.