An Intro to Metric Modulation

It’s an honor to have shared the stage over the years with artists as diverse as Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen, Devon Evans (of Bob Marley and the Wailers), Clyde Stubblefield, Rolling Stones saxophonist Tim Ries, Bad Company’s Lynn Sorensen, [America’s Polka King] the late Frankie Yankovic, disco sensations The Afrodisiacs, 80’s nerd-rockers The Spazmatics, Mbrascatu, King Black Acid, Portland Cello Project, Floater and more.

I feel equally as fortunate to have contributed drumset and/or percussion tracks to a number of incredible recording projects, including releases by M.Ward, She & Him, Mbrascatu, Haley Johnsen, Falls, Amanda Richards, Robert Wynia & The Sound, Drumattica, Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, Elke Robitaille, Cult of Orpheus and others.

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I've long been a fan of TED and TEDx talks, so being invited to step on stage at several of them has led to some of my all-time favorite [and, at times, most terrifying] experiences! I spoke alongside a stellar cast of characters at the 2nd annual TEDxConcordiaUPortland (now called TEDxMtHood) and have returned as their on-stage host for three additional years (2013, 2014 and 2015).

Watch my TEDxConcordiaUPortland 2012 talk, “I Am The Instrument,” right here.

I also performed and spoke at the first ever TEDxYouthOmaha (2014), for a group of several hundred high school students.

Watch that one, titled “ROCK Unlocked: The 4 Keys To Your Future Success,” right here.

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Over the past 20+ years, I’ve regularly maintained weekly private lesson rosters of anywhere from 20-65 students. Travel opportunities have also allowed me to perform and teach throughout North America, as well as in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the South Pacific.

As a teaching artist, I have facilitated my percussion programs – including my “Percussion of the Past, Present & Future” assembly, “TrashBamBOOM!” workshop (formerly “Junk Jam”), “Sights & Sounds of Ghana” presentation and “Hand Drumming Crash Course” classes – in over 200 schools and organizations around the world. I also present at youth/adult correctional facilities and lead businesses and organizations through leadership and team building training in my highly interactive “Rhythms at Work” sessions.

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I authored Slammin’ Simon’s Guide to Mastering Your First Rock & Roll Drum Beats! (in English and Spanish), Slammin’ Simon’s 20 Essential Drum Rudiments, Slammin’ Simon’s Beginner’s Bundle, Jammin' Janet's First 100+ Rock Beats for Drumset, and Solo in Style – a collection of original drumset solos for beginning/intermediate performers (published by Alfred Music). I’m also honored to be co-author (along with Dave Black) of Alfred’s Drumset Method, Book 2; and co-author (with Walfredo Reyes, Sr., Elliot Fine and David Stanoch) of the book The 2-in-1 Drummer–– both also available from Alfred Music.

My two children’s board books, I Want to Be a Drummer! and I Want to Be A Reader! (silver medalist in the board book category of the 2017 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards), are published by blue manatee press and illustrated by Maria Montag.

Other resources I’ve authored include Grooves On-The-Go and a 10,000-hour Practice Log & Journal. You can find all of the above-mentioned books on my Amazon author page.

I’ve also written for Modern Drummer Magazine, DRUM! Magazine, Percussive Notes and a variety of other percussion publications, and have composed and published nine percussion solo/ensemble pieces.

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Fun fact: a few buddies and I were co-holders of a Guinness World Record for a while (Longest Drum Roll by a Group: 2003-2005) for playing a continuous 12-hour drumroll!

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Find out more on my website: PowersPercussion.com