Jimmy  has worked with a variety  of artists in live, recorded and televised performances since 1976. These would include arena rock groups, big bands, small ensembles, ethnic groups and symphonies. Some of the artists Jimmy has worked with are:

• Roger Williams (Legendary Pianist)
• Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night)
• Mike Pinera (Iron Butterfly)
• Bobby Kimbal (Toto)
• John Fogerty (CCR)
• Kenny Nolan
• Danny Gans
• Al Wilson
• The Drifters
• The Platters
• The Coasters
• Little Anthony
• Tiny Tim
• Wolfman Jack
• Otis Day
• Bobby Day
• Badfinger
• Spencer Davis
• The Tokens
• Harry Blackstone Jr.
• Joan Rivers
• Jack Carter
• The LA Raiders big band

Besides performing with the above listed artists, he has also enjoyed a very successful career recording in the advertising/promo field for such clients as:

• CBS
• United Paramount Network
• Air Creative
• Standing O Entertainment
• Disney

Jimmy  has worked on projects such as:

• “Toy Story” spots for Saturday morning cartoons
• “Picket Fences”
• “Children of the Dust” (CBS mini series)
• “Cybill”
• “Lonesome Dove” (CBS mini series)
• “Walker Texas Ranger”
• “Northern Exposure”
• “Scarlett” (CBS mini series)
• “Queen” (CBS mini series)
• “The Young and the Restless”

Currently, and for the last fifteen years Jimmy has enjoyed working with legendary pianist Roger Williams. Through this experience he has had the opportunity to perform in such famous venues as:

• Carnegie Hall
• Memorial Continental Hall and many performing arts centers around the country.

As well as with great Symphony’s such as:

• Phoenix Symphony
• Salt Lake City Symphony
• Memphis Symphony
• Houston Symphony
• Dallas Symphony
• Spokane Symphony
• Pacific Symphony
• Fort Wayne Symphony
• The Charlotte Symphony
• The Knoxville Symphony
• The Omaha Symphony
• The United States Air Force Band
• The Florida Symphony

In December 1999, the group was seen on PBS in an hour special called “Pop Goes The Ivories”. During the same time, Roger and the band recorded a live CD that was released in January 2000.

Beginning Students:
Teaching a beginning student requires patience and caring. This is a very important beginning step where a new student is really capable of falling in love with the drums. I am extremely conscious of the fact that a new student needs a lot of positive reinforcement, encouragement and most of all great amounts of enthusiasm. This truly helps give a student the ability and chance to be successful. A beginning drum student is faced with developing challenging foundational skills and will need a great deal of guidance and understanding. Smiles always help! The foundational skills I will concentrate on will be as follows; Drum ergonomics such as posture, proper setup, and basic hand and foot coordination techniques. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of playing with a metronome, beginning music reading and writing skills and the beginning of several different playing styles. From the very beginning I record my students to give them immediate feedback of their own playing. This practice has always greatly aided in the success of a students development. It is very important to me that it remain an enjoyable learning experience for all my students at all levels.

Intermediate Students:
As in all steps of the teaching process, teaching the intermediate student comes with its own special requirements. The first challenge is sometimes to keep a students continuing interest when the work becomes a bit harder. I always continue to encourage my students to practice longer and harder to achieve greater playing skills. I always say “The better you get the more fun it becomes” At this level after beginning hand and foot techniques have been accomplished, I will introduce all of the drumming rudiments and techniques for better streamlined execution of those rudiments. We will also continue our reading and writing skills and expand from just reading out of drum books to the reading of actual drum charts. I will add styles to my student’s repertoire and continue to increase the difficulty of the styles already learned. As always, I will stress the use of a metronome to better strengthen a students timing skills.

Advanced Students:
At this level I will prepare my students to compete as professionals. I will continue to record my students and encourage them to do the same by any means possible. I will continue to stress playing with other musicians and the strengthening all of the foundational skills learned. We will continue to explore other drumming styles and the many grooves inherent of those styles. At the advanced level my students have become fairly proficient readers and writers. We will continue to strengthen these skills to prepare for any professional reading or writing situation. Another important aspect to consider at all levels is what styles of music my students favor. It always keeps it more interesting and fun for my students when they can work on styles they enjoy. I will help my students prepare any music that they are required to play for any situation. I will continue to help my advanced students in working on anything needed for any professional situation. In closing, I will always remain available for all students whenever they need my help or support in any way.

Rate: In Students Home     $40 HR
Click here to contact Jimmy for more info.

With the advancements in digital recording almost any space can work. If you specifically need to record acoustic instruments i.e. drums, then I would suggest some modification of a room to create the proper acoustic recording environment. After a room is chosen or completed we first need to buy the recording equipment.

A digital recording studio first starts with a powerful computer. This is where most people get in trouble because they do not build a powerful enough machine to do the optimum recording job in the first place. I will guide you through the building of a computer specially designed for recording. If you wish I can have it built for you by a highly specialized music computer technician. There are many pieces of outboard gear and software that we can add to your studio setup, but we will first start with the core requirements and build from there. We will discuss choices of computer operating system platforms and different types of recording software. The important thing is to start recording as soon as possible and try not to be bogged down by having to learn about to many pieces of gear at one time. Where we will concentrate our time is in the learning of the recording software and proper use and maintenance of your studio computer.

If you are interested in my services, please contact me and we will discuss price.