Whether you are a beginner or an actively performing musician, our experienced drum teachers offer you one-on-one instruction customized to help you achieve your musical goals. Our instructors teach drum and hand percussion in a wide variety of styles.

We offer a hand drumming class that teaches sound fundamentals of playing in a supportive group setting. Our complete current class schedule with session dates and times is published quarterly and available upon request in hardcopy and e-versions.

A number of our instructors lead bands (or “ensembles”) in a variety of styles. These bands provide opportunities for drum and percussion players to learn how to play better with other musicians, gain valuable performing experience, and pick up new repertoire. Visit our Bands page for more details.

DRUM AND PERCUSSION INSTRUCTORS

Milo Fine - Drums
www.fetik3.com/milofine
Milo Fine, a lifelong resident of the Minneapolis area, is the son of well-known percussionist, Elliot Fine, with whom Milo studied informally as a child. Milo started teaching drums in the late sixties, and specializes in beginning to intermediate levels of snare drum and drum set reading and technique, covering classical, rock and jazz styles. He has been on the WBSM faculty since the mid-seventies. Milo's focus as a musician is improvised music, a field he has submerged himself in since 1969. Further information about his music, including details on his ongoing concert series at the WBSM, can be found on his website.

Will Kemperman - Drum Set, Latin Percussion, Marimba
www.willkemperman.com

Since earning a Masters of Music in percussion degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001, Will continues to be heard on numerous musical stages around Minnesota, and has developed a reputation as an exceptional teacher. Will has extensive percussion experience in many areas of music, performing in a wide range of styles: concert hall, musical theatre, blues and rock, jazz, Eastern European, and Latin music. He has appeared recently as a featured percussionist with the National Lutheran Choir and at the Art of Sweat Rhythm Festivals #1 and #2. He performs regularly with the rock, R&B, blues, and soul outfit, Blue Daddies, and the Klezmer and Eastern European band, Maritza. Will has made a name for himself as an accomplished drum teacher for students of all ages in beginning percussion, classical percussion, drum set, Latin drumming, and marimba. In addition to West Bank, he teaches percussion, percussion ensemble, and Afro-Cuban percussion at three area colleges: University of St. Thomas, Hamline University, and Normandale Community College.

Curly Martin - Drum Set, Ensembles
Ernest "Curly" Martin is an award-winning drummer who has been playing professionally for fifty years with national and international jazz and blues artists. He studied Percussion at the Musician's Institute of Technology in Hollywood, California, and has been teaching since 1971. Curly's resume reads like a history book of jazz and blues. He has played with such jazz legends as Sonny Stitt, Bobby Lyle, Carmen McRae and Jack McDuff, and blues greats including Etta James, Percy Mayfield, B.B. King and Bobby Blue Bland. In 2005, Curly was inducted into the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame.

PERCUSSION CLASSES (See current class schedule for dates and times)

If you don’t see a percussion class that fits your music education goals, contact the Director to see if we can create a class for you.

Latin American Hand Drumming - Kale Olson-Reed
Hand-drumming is a great way to release the music in you and experience the rush of playing music in a group.You don’t need previous musical experience to participate in this class for beginning to intermediate levels. We’ll explore traditional rhythms from Africa to Latin America and rhythms created on the spot in a drum jam style.You will be introduced to hand drum technique as it applies to these traditional rhythms. Some congas or djembe will be provided; you are encouraged to bring your own drum.

WEST BANK SCHOOL of MUSIC
1813 South 6th St. Minneapolis, MN. 55454 (612) 333-6651
info@westbankmusic.org

Graphic Design Services donated by Jeff Jones Creative and JT Communications
Web Site Programming, Content Management Editor and Hosting donated and provided by Webb Lake Software.