Stephen is a consummate, well-rounded professional drummer, percussionist, and music educator. He performs on drumset with The Dollhouse Thieves and Ravinwolf, and on timpani with the Boulder Symphony. He holds a Master's in Percussion Performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he also taught and tutored music theory, and a Bachelor's in Music Education from Central Michigan University. He currently teaches the brass, percussion, and jazz students at Altona Middle, the drumlines at Frederick and Silver Creek High, and private drum students at Parlando School for the Arts. He's been teaching since 2009, and while music takes up most of his time, he also enjoys all that the Rocky Mountains have to offer - snowboarding, hiking, and camping every chance he gets!
TEACHING STYLE
Stephen encourages students to follow their own curiosities and develop their own musical tastes. He believes there is something interesting and valuable to be found in any artist, song, or genre. He facilitates healthy self-reflection and constructive feedback, so that students begin to ask better questions, and think about music on higher and higher levels. He ensures his students are well-versed in the fundamentals of tone, technique, theory, and aural skills.
Finally, music should be fun. The better you get, the more fun it is, and the more you're set up for a lifetime of appreciating music!
