Introductions

Today is May 3 2019 and I just joined the ChordWizard® Network. I grew up and live in Nova Scotia, Canada. I am 58 years old and retired from a successful career as an Agricultural Engineer, Business Person, Leadership Coach, Research Scientist, and University Professor.

Musically, at the urging of my parents (both semi-professional Country Rock musicians), I started taking piano lessons in the Fall of 1967 when I was seven. By the time I was 10, I had completed the Canadian Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 6 examinations, but my heart was not in playing piano. I wanted to be a drummer! When my piano teacher died in early 1971, I stopped taking piano lessons. I started taking drum lessons in the Fall 1971.

My drum teacher was a wonderful gentleman with greying hair and a big moustache named Ed Jardine. Ed had graduated from the Berklee School of Music many years prior. He was a superb musician who could, as if by magic to an 11-year-old boy, float effortlessly around his drum kit playing rhythms of any genre. I passionately progressed quickly through the rudiments and moved into learning rock rhythms on the full kit within nine months. By the time I was 13, Ed had taught me everything he could. I was playing full double bass, syncopated rhythms, independent left hand and bass, and could sight read any sheet music he would put in front of me. He had taught me Rock, Jazz, Latin, Funk, and Blues. And I was playing all the hit Rock songs of the era at home. Didn't matter what rock band or song. I would listen to each song over and over, section by section until I could play it exactly as the band's drummer was playing it. Now what? Ed suggested I keep playing and when I got old enough I should attend Berklee, then turn professional if I still wanted to by then.

As luck would have it, the drummer in my parent's country rock band quit in the summer of 1974. They agreed I would become their new drummer. It was a Country Rock band that played covers of the current hits played on the radio, and Old-time Fiddle dance music, but I didn't care. I was going to get to play in a real band in front of real people as they danced away the night. I proceeded to learn their playlist and by September I WAS READY!

We played the local circuit three weekends a month on Friday and Saturday nights; sometimes on Thursday's too. I went to school full-time and when I turned 16 I worked two part-time jobs as well. On our off weekends, I began to get calls from other bands in the area to sit in for their drummer, which I willingly did. I enjoyed playing with the other musicians and they liked my style and solid on-time beat. I played steady like this for six years, until in 1980 it was time for me to go off to University in Montreal. I wanted to become a professional drummer, but my parents wanted me to get a University education so I would have something solid to fall back. So, off I went with a couple of suitcases of belongings. In hindsight, I should have found a way to take my drum kit with me, but I didn't.

I got married, had children, and life became very busy for me. There was no place in it for me to get back to playing the drums. So, I just considered myself retired from playing since 1980 onward.

Fast forward to 2009 when life provided me the opportunity to get back to drumming. I bought a new Roland V-Drums TD20K kit and a TDW-20 Brain Expansion Module. For a digital kit, it has a realistic playing feel and the sounds it can make are incredible. I was physically "rusty" but my brain remembered everything. It wasn't long before I became proficient again.

The musical highlight of my life was in 2010. I attended the Cape Breton International Drum Festival. It was dubbed the "Year of the Legends". What an experience I had. For three days and nights I soaked in the stage performances and masterclasses of some of the drumming world's legends: Alan White, Dom Famularo, Danny Seraphine, Liberty Devitto, Bill Cobham, Carmine Appice, Denny Seiwell, Bernard Purdie, Roxy Petrucci, Troy Lucckettta, Michael Schrieve, Jerry Mercer, Skip Hadden, Paul Wertico, Chad Wackerman, Virgil Donati, and Pete Lockett.  I ate with them, drank with them, partied with them, and shared stories and memories with them. For that weekend I was welcomed into the international drumming brotherhood with open arms. Today, I am still inspired by that experience!

I began teaching drum lessons to a couple of youngsters in 2017; one of them my grandson. I do it just for FUN and to pass on my drumming knowledge and skills. I am getting old, you know. LOL.

My favourite genres are Classic Rock, Funk, and Blues.

In 2018, I turned to writing music as a way for self-expression and dealing with life's stressors. I have a few songs almost ready to record. When they are ready, I will publish them for all to enjoy.

I look forward to getting to know some of the ChordWizard Network members and using the software to help me progress with my songwriting. I am interested in collaborating if we find we are a good fit for each other. I would also like to contribute some of my musical knowledge and musicianship to the forum for others to learn from.

Kind regards,

Kevin